However, while his endeavours with wine have gone well, celebrity chef James Martin’s encounters with whisky have left something of a sour taste. The Mail On Sunday can reveal the TV star has lost a legal battle with a Scotch whisky firm over a bid to register his own name as a trademark. The ITV presenter sought exclusive ownership of ‘James Martin’ and ‘James Martin’s’ as trademarks for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in an effort to expand his brand. However, lawyers for Edinburgh firm Macdonald & Muir, owner of famous Scotch whiskies including Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, opposed the application and said the name was identical to one of its long-established products. He has hosted ITV’s James Martin’s Saturday Morning show since 2017, following his departure from BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen.

Source: Daily Mail January 11, 2026 09:25 UTC