Gemma Atkinson was left unable to sample the dishes whipped up by chef James Martin because of her pregnancy.

The 34-year-old radio presenter, who is currently expecting her first child with Strictly Come Dancing partner Gorka Marquez, had to stare longingly at the meals James made on his Saturday Morning show because her condition prevents her from eating certain things.

James made gin-cured smoked salmon for his guests Gemma and chef Stephen Terry, with a side of cucumber ketchup - but Gemma could only take a bite of the sauce.

Introducing the dish, James made light of Gemma's pregnancy.

Gemma wasn't able to sample James' dish
She couldn't even try the wine

"I knew you were... not now, but you were a gin lover," he said.

"Yes, I was a gin lover," she said forlornly.

As James washed off the salt and sugar coating from his side of salmon, he revealed he was also removing the gin.

"Ugh. Well, I don't want it anymore," Gemma joked.

"Some of it's in there, Gemma, small amounts," he assured her.

Gemma looked longingly at the gin

As James finished off his cured salmon, Stephen piped up: "You can cure them [fish] or eat them raw, as long as you're not pregnant. It's not something you'd want to do."

"Yeah," Gemma replied. "That's one thing I've missed, because I normally have salmon like this in the morning with some eggs, and ever since being pregnant I've not been able to, and that's one of the things I do miss, is salmon."

"Well, you can make this and stick it in the freezer," James advised as she laughed.

The two men dug into the fishy dish with their forks - and James told Gemma she could try some of the ketchup.

She told a mouthful and looked longingly at the bottle of gin next to her, which James handed to her.

Gemma was left drinkless by James

"That's going to be your present in a few months time," he joked.

"Oh thank you, in six months I can drink that!" she shot back.

As the camera returned to the studio after a wine segment, James liberally poured out two glasses of red wine for Stephen and himself, leaving Gemma with nothing.

The blokes swigged their booze as Gemma leaned over to smell the bottle, while James joked she was "missing out".

The former Emmerdale star revealed her pregnancy on February 1 in a sweet Instagram message with her two dogs, Norm and Ollie.

Gemma and Gorka are expecting their first baby later this summer

One of her pooches posed with the camera with a sign around his neck reading: "Guess what... Mum's pregnant!"

The other had one that said: "We're going to be big brothers!"


Current NHS advice states that smoked salmon is safe to eat during pregnancy.

However, expectant mums are advised to limit their intake of oily fish - like salmon, sardines and mackerel - to three times a week.