James Martin once regarded
James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli as the love of his life. After recently splitting from his girlfriend of 12 years, Louise Davies, the TV chef has reportedly now moved on with personal trainer Kim Johnson, with the pair spotted looking at watches at a Mayfair shop over the weekend. It's unlikely, however, that James will ever forget his early romance with Barbara, a powerful woman 12 years his senior who 'won' him at an auction in 2001, and paid a staggering £18,000 for him to cook her dinner. At the time, James, then 29, was a rising star on the culinary scene, while Barbara, then 41, was already a formidable name in
Hollywood. James was the son of a catering manager, while Barbara was bonafide Tinseltown royalty - the daughter of legendary film producer Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli. Despite the wildly different worlds in which they moved, the chalk and cheese couple's connection was quickly apparent, and, as James put it in his 2009 memoir Driven, they 'just clicked'. Impressed by James' kitchen skills, Barbara booked him again for a birthday meal, and sparks soon flew. James Martin said age gap ruined his relationship with James Bond boss Barbara Broccoli Barbara paid £18,000 for James to cook her dinner ( Image: WireImage) James recently split with long-term girlfriend Louise Davies ( Image:
UK Press via Getty Images) A thrilling romance ensued, with Barbara introducing Malton-born James to A-list pals such as Nicole Kidman and Halle Berry, and inviting him along to showbiz events. She also showered him with opulent gifts beyond anything he could have imagined. In a piece penned for the MailOnline in 2008, James, now 51, spoke of his shock after Barbara presented him with a Picaccaso painting for his birthday after he'd admired it at an exhibition. Describing their time together as the 'most surreal, exciting and unforgettable four-and-a-half years' of his life, .James revealed: "Barbara had an astonishing ability to remember detail. If you said you liked a painting, six months or a year later she would have found it and bought it for you. "We once saw Ronan Keating on Top Of The Pops and he had this great Tiffany ring on his little finger. I made an admiring remark about it. Barbara got me an identical ring that
Christmas , inscribing inside with our saying: 'Being with you is as easy as breathing'." Barbara's generosity with gift-giving ultimately spelled doom for their romance, however, with one luxury present exposing the vast chasm between them. Five years after that fateful auction brought them together, Barbara, now 63, offered to treat her younger beau to a £180,000 Aston Martin - a gesture that left him feeling uncomfortable. Remembering this significant turning point in Driven, James recalled: "It wasn't as if it was my birthday or Christmas – it was just a spur-of-the-moment thought. It was a defining moment in our relationship. Deep down, I knew there was always going to be an imbalance." On reflection, however, James admitted that
BREAKING up with Barbara may well have been 'the daftest thing I have done in my life'. Expressing regret over speaking publicly about their relationship, James added: "It was a big mistake. I stupidly didn't listen to people, but I won't be doing that again." The age gap between them had left James feeling uneasy, as he couldn't help but wonder what assumptions others might have been making about his motivations. James wrote: "Looking back, the days that really stand out for me are those when it was just the two of us. We would switch off our mobile phones and it would be our time. The age gap didn't help matters in public. When we went to functions I felt uncomfortable when people looked at me, this nobody, and probably thought, 'He's with her for the money'." He continued: "But I never wanted anything from Barbara. Maybe it's male pride but there were certain places I refused to go unless I paid. When I said I hated us being apart, she said: 'Why don't you give it all up, then? I'll look after you'. That was the last thing I wanted. To be given a cheque every week? No thanks. I wanted to work." Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com. Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on Snapchat ,
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