James Martin has hit out BBC producers for cutting the budget on Saturday Kitchen.
The British chef, 43, who is stepping down as host after 10 years on the show, has said that format decisions were made that we out of his control.
During his new cookery tour, Plates, Mates & Automobiles, The Mirror reports that Martin was asked why members of the public were no longer invited on the programme.
“That wasn’t my decision. I liked having the studio guests. It was the BBC’s decision,” he said.
Martin then added: “Budget cuts... and don’t look at me, I didn’t get a pay rise.
“People are thinking he’s not like this on a Saturday morning; now I’m off my leash you see.”
The popular TV chef announced that he would be stepping down from the show so that he could focus on different projects.
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He said in a statement this week: “I would like to personally thank all the viewers for turning Saturday Kitchen into a three million-plus smash hit. I could not have done it without them.
“I would also like to thank the BBC and Saturday Kitchen for the great opportunity they gave me. It has been an amazing journey and I have been privileged to work with some of the world’s greatest chefs and some of the greatest names in showbiz.
“I wish the new chefs every success. I am looking forward to getting stuck into my new projects and to lots of lie-ins on a Saturday morning.”