James Martin's one regret over Barbara Broccoli split and expensive gift that ended romance
dailyrecord.co.ukJames Martin once described James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli as the love of his life.After his recent split from his girlfriend of 12 years, Louise Davies, the TV chef has seemingly now moved on with his personal trainer Kim Johnson, as the pair were spotted looking at watches in Mayfair over the weekend.
Despite his reported new love affair with Kim, it's unlikely James will ever forget his early romance with Barbara, a powerful woman, 12 years older than him - 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 in the culinary wold, whilst Barbara, 41, was already an established name in Hollywood, reports the Mirror.James was the son of a catering manager, while Barbara was bonafide Tinseltown royalty - the daughter of legendary film producer Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli.And despite their hugely different upbringings, the chalk and cheese couple's connection was quickly apparent, and, as James put it in his 2009 memoir Driven, they 'just clicked'.
Highly impressed by James' kitchen skills, Barbara rebooked him for a birthday meal and soon, sparks were flying. A whirlwind romance ensued, with Barbara introducing James to A-list pals including 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 Picasso 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
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk