Chef Brian Turner, 77, shares health update in rare TV appearance 18 months after stroke ordeal

Chef Brian Turner, 77, shares health update in rare TV appearance 18 months after stroke ordeal

WATCH NOW: Brian Turner delivers health update 18 months after stroke

ITV
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 23/12/2023

- 12:50

Updated: 23/12/2023

- 13:06

The TV chef reunited with James Martin on Saturday morning

Legendary TV chef Brian Turner, 77, has revealed he's "recovering very slowly" almost a year and a half after he suffered a stroke.

Turner, who's starred in a number of UK cooking shows over the years, first revealed he'd had a stroke on James Martin's Saturday Morning earlier this year and now he returned to share how his recovery journey is going.


After being introduced by Martin as his "TV dad", Turner revealed he was going to cook a dish consisting of scallops, smoked haddock, and vegetables in champagne.

Giving Turner the chance to update fans, Martin said to his friend and mentor: "Now those people who are just tuning in, it's probably the first time they've seen you on TV for a while.

"You've not been very well recently, but you're doing an amazing job raising money for a certain charity and the awareness you're raising awareness..."

Turner explained: "The nuts and bolts of it are I had a stroke about 18 months ago...

Brian Turner

Brian Turner has been actively raising awareness since suffering a stroke

GETTY

"And I'm recovering very slowly and the Stroke Association use me wherever possible to spread the message and they do a damn good job."

Martin then "put Turner to the test" as they pair went through the FAST acronym which informs people of the signs to look out for and the actions to take if a stroke occurs.

After reeling off the T standing for time, Turner passionately said: "We've got to get people to hospital very fast if they've had a stroke. That's the big message."

Seeing and hearing Turner's upbeat manner amid his ongoing recovery, fans flocked to X, formerly Twitter, to praise the experienced chef.

One ITV viewer commented: "Oh my days. Brian Turner on James Martin’s Saturday Morning... what a legend. Pleasure to watch whilst I wrap presents."

A second added: "One of the best bits of TV I have seen in a while watching James Martin and a recovering Brian Turner cook together on Saturday Kitchen. Class is forever and a lovely character."

Elsewhere, a third praised: "Brian Turner on James Martin... My heart goes out to him.. 18 months after a stroke... He still got the humour... An inspiration to others."

While a fourth echoed: "Lovely to see the lovely Brian Turner on with @jamesmartinchef today, you can see how much respect James has for Brian. Good to see you doing well after your recent illness."

James Martin welcomed Brian Turner

James Martin welcomed Brian Turner back onto his ITV show

ITV

And a fifth weighed in: "Lovely to see Brian Turner (now recovering from a stroke) on James Martin's Saturday Morning show.

"Apart from Delia Smith, he's one of the first telly chefs I recall seeing, before these shows became so popular." (sic)

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