Who will replace James Martin as Saturday Kitchen's full-time host?

Fans set up petition to bring in Ainsley Harriott, but there are other names ready to cook up a storm

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James Martin has been in the kitchen for ten years

After ten years of grilling celebrities and creating culinary delights on BBC One's Saturday Kitchen, chef James Martin finally bowed out last month.

Guest hosts have been filling in since Martin's final episode on 26 March, with Michel Roux Jr and Lorraine Pascale the first two to take on the challenge.

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While it is not yet clear if a full-time replacement will be hired, fans have been speculating on who they would like to see in the role…

Ainsley Harriott

Best known for presenting Ready Steady Cook, Harriott is a favourite with Saturday Kitchen fans. The Londoner has more than a dozen cookery books under his belt, as well as his own range of soups and grains. A petition has even been set up calling for him to replace Martin, although only 26 people have signed up so far…

Gennaro Contaldo

You'd be forgiven for thinking Contaldo is a permanent member of staff on Saturday Kitchen – the restauranteur has joined Martin in the studio 24 times, more than any other chef. His frequent appearances on the show, as well as his popular YouTube cookery tutorials on former protege Jamie Oliver's channel, prove that the "Greedy Italian" is thoroughly at home on camera.

Lorraine Pascale

Pascale has already proved her TV mettle with a string of popular shows covering everyday cuisine as well as her specialty - baking. The model turned cook radiates charm and unflappability on her screen appearances and grace under pressure is a recipe for success for any live TV host.

However, viewers weren't bowled over by her first outing as guest host last weekend, with some describing her presenting style as "wooden".

Tom Kerridge

Kerridge's West Country twang has become a familiar sound to TV viewers over the past few years. The owner of top-drawer Buckinghamshire gastropub The Hand and Flowers shot to fame with upmarket twists on classic pub fare, which have made him one of the most popular members of the latest generation of celebrity chefs. Plus, his easygoing, down-to-earth demeanour would put the stuffiest celebrity guest at their ease.

Paul Hollywood

Between glowering his way through The Great British Bake Off and presenting his own spin-off masterclasses on the BBC, Hollywood has hardly been off TV screens this year. As host of Saturday Kitchen, his no-nonsense attitude and gruff sense of humour might make a welcome change from Martin's cheesy charm. In any case, his icy glare would certainly keep the show's guest chefs from running over time.

Gregg Wallace

Wallace was the original host of Saturday Kitchen back when it first hit screens in 2002, but was replaced by Antony Worrall Thompson a year later. However, after ten years of MasterChef, could the presenter be ready to let bygones be bygones and rejoin the show that gave him his TV break? Perhaps not. Earlier this month, Wallace told BANG Showbiz he was too busy to give up his Saturday mornings – instead, he recommended his MasterChef co-judge, John Torode, for the role.

Ching-He Huang

British-Taiwanese cook Ching-He Huang has top culinary credentials – her recipe books are bestsellers and her TV series, Chinese Food Made Easy, is broadcast all over the world. Her experience in front of the camera also includes Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure, the 2012 BBC documentary in which she explored Chinese cuisine with the legendary Ken Hom. Added to that, Huang has been a regular visitor to Saturday Kitchen and impressed Martin and fellow guests with her simple and healthy takes on classic Asian fare.

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