Brian Turner has explained how Saturday Morning hostsupported him in the aftermath of his stroke last year.
The chefs have appeared alongside each other on several occasions, as well as on Saturday Kitchen, which James previously hosted from 2006 until 2016.
Earlier this year Brian, 76, returned to his friend and colleagues show and .
‘Unfortunately in June last year, and the people at the hospital were fantastic and helpful,’ he said, before explaining that his .
‘So excuse me if I make a stammer occasionally,’ he added while appearing on the show in January.
Now, Brian has explained how significant the support from James, and the public, has been in his recovery.
‘It was fantastic. I get emotional, James Martin has been an absolute brick,’ he said.
‘It was helpful that James was there to help me, not to be trusted entirely on my own in the kitchen yet but I’m slowly but surely getting used to a kitchen.
‘The whole hospitality family has been really, really supportive but James has particularly been strong and helpful,’ he added when speaking to.
Reflecting on how the pair had become such good friends, Brian shared they first met when James was just eight years old.
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
The outlines that the symptoms of a stroke can be remembered by using the acronym FAST, which stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time.
When an individual suffers a stroke, they may not be able to smile, their face may have dropped to one side or their mouth or eye may have dropped.
They may not be able to lift both of their arms and keep them up, as one of their arms could be feeling weak or numb.
They may exhibit slurred or unclear speech, or be unable to talk at all and have difficulty understanding if someone else is speaking to them.
People are urged to call 999 if any of these symptoms are spotted.
‘I was doing a gourmet weekend near Whitby and his father [Ian Martin] was jointly doing the dinner and speaking about the wines. He brought James along and James was in the kitchen,’ he said.
‘When he was older, about 16 or 17, I met him again because I judged his college diploma before he graduated and then when he came down to London we would meet regularly.
‘Then of course we did Ready Steady Cook and all those shows together, so he has been a great friend and a great help to me.’
When speaking on air about his stroke, Brian was supported by James as he made the announcement.
‘I love you fella, so round of applause for all the people who’ve been looking after you. And it’s a pleasure to have you back,’ James said.
The pair then also clapped in honour of the members of staff at the hospital, who had helped care for him.
James Martin’s Saturday Morning is streaming on ITVX.
