Matt Tebbutt details connection to Saturday Kitchen co-star Helen after ‘twist of fate’

Saturday Kitchen presenter Matt Tebbutt, 47, has shared a surprising connection to his co-star and the show’s drinks writer Helen McGinn. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the BBC star revealed that his relationship with the writer goes a long way back, before she made her debut as a wine expert on the weekly programme.

The chef knew the drinks expert prior to her appearing on the weekend cooking show.

He said: “I’ve known Helen for years, we go back to university.”

Matt was taken by surprise when his old friend walked onto the set, saying that it was meant to be that they ended up working together.

“By coincidence she walks on as a wine buyer and gets into the media, so that was a real twist of fate,” he explained.

Helen and Matt both studied at Oxford Brookes university, where the chef gained a degree in Geography and Anthropology.

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“So we are all friends and we do all go out to the pub afterwards, go out to restaurants and stuff like that, socialise, and that kind of comes across,” he said.

Elsewhere in the interview the star explained how he was initially “nervous” to take over from James Martin after a decade.

Matt said: “I was quite nervous about it, it wasn’t without trepidation.

“Of course I was kind of a little bit nervous as he has an army of dedicated fans,” he said, referring to James’ loyal fanbase.