It is soup for starters on today’s episode of James Martin: Home Comforts, as the master chef serves up a range of cheap and cheerful meals.

James says about his ham hock and pea soup: “A luxurious version of ham and pea soup using poached ham hock and a judicious dash of cream. It clocks in at a pound a portion but it would not look out of place on the flashiest dinner table.”

To make his dish James put two ham hocks in a pan and adds bay leaves, fresh thyme, bunch of fresh parsley and bulb of garlic. He then rough chop a carrot, celery and an onion before adding some whole pepper corns. He fills the pan with water then cooks it on the hob for about an hour and a half.

See how James finish making his soup in this BBC video: