James Martin has opened up on his split with James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.
The celebrity chef reckons he knew things were doomed with his former flame when she tried to buy him a £180,000 Aston Martin.
The Saturday Morning star and Broccoli were together for four-and-a-half years before they ended their relationship in 2008, as reports the Mirror.
Reflecting on his past love, James, 49, says there was an 'imbalance' between himself and the mega-rich producer, so he knew deep down it wouldn't work.
He had met the 61-year-old at a charity auction and recalled how they instantly clicked despite their 12-year age gap.
Barbara - said to be worth £300million - showered him with some incredible gifts including three genuine Picassos.
But it was when she tried to buy him the supercar that he knew they were just to different for the relationship to succeed.
“It wasn’t as if it was my birthday or Christmas – it was just a spur of the moment thought,” James said as he opened up about their break-up.
“It was a defining moment in our relationship. Deep down, I knew there was always going to be an imbalance.”
“In the end I said, ‘If I want something, I’ll work for it. Just drop it or we’re going to fall out over this’.
James went on to date former Miss England Sally Kettle and he has now been in a relationship with his long-term girlfriend TV producer Louise Davies since 2011.
The pair met on the set of Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and have since their relationship out of the spotlight.
In a 2008 article, James suggested to the Mirror that his split from Barbara was ultimately “for the best”.
He added: “To walk away from someone you love and who loves you that much is hard.
“Maybe it was the daftest thing I have done in my life but it was probably the most sensible, too."
