James Martin says he is not in the running for Top Gear job

YORKSHIRE CHEF James Martin denied that he was in the running to take over from Chris Evans as Top Gear host, saying that he had not received any call from producers.

The former Saturday Kitchen presenter is a confirmed petrol-head and has recently begun diversifying his CV by guest presenting ITV’s This Morning on Friday with Countryfile’s Anita Rani.

The 44-year-old told The Sun: “Apparently I’m the bookies’ favourite...But the phone hasn’t rung yet.”

He joked that he would have considered putting a bet on himself being next in line for the BBC Two motoring show’s hot seat if rumours hadn’t made his odds so short.

He continued: “I know that’s the rumour, but I don’t know where I’m going to fit it in.

“I can’t even put a bet on myself now because you lot (the press) have made the odds even!

“I enjoy my cars and I like the collecting of them, but Top Gear is a really tough show - it’s a different ball game.”

He has received criticism for his presenting skills on This Morning and said insults like “wooden” and “boring” were a “rude awakening”.

Martin added that he had had enough bad things ‘thrown at me in my life - in all manner of different things - to worry about it, so it doesn’t bother me’.

“All I can do with any programme is be honest, stay true to myself,” he said.

“And when you consider that I’m severely dyslexic... I’ve never read a book in my life - so reading a script is hard.”