James Martin has revealed he’s taking a break (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Saturday Kitchen star James Martin is ‘taking a break’ as he shared an update on his cancer diagnosis.
The TV chef, 51, revealed in July this year, amid an apology after accusations of exhibiting bullying and intimidating behaviour while filming an ITV programme, that he had been diagnosed with facial cancer.
He underwent surgery in 2018 after the diagnosis, before it returned on ‘several occasions’ for which he has ‘regular treatments’.
Martin has now shared an update, ahead of taking a break from work.
Speaking at his tour show at the Philharmonic Hall on Monday, he said, according to The Mirror: ‘For me personally, I’ve been through a lot of s**t with cancer but I’m getting sorted at the end of next month.
‘I will be back fighting at the end of February but I’m going on a little bit of a break to get that sorted.
‘I just wanted to say thank you for all your support and all your messages.’
Martin underwent surgery in 2018 for facial cancer (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Martin revealed his diagnosis earlier this year, saying: ‘I was then diagnosed with cancer on my face and I had to have surgery, which I couldn’t do until two days before Christmas when we had finished filming.
‘Since then it has returned on several occasions and I have to have regular treatments.’
His comments came amid an apology he issued, after an incident from 2018 came to light.
Reports emerged in July accusing the This Morning guest of exhibiting bullying and intimidating behaviour while filming an ITV programme.
It was reported that in May this year, a complaint was made to the broadcaster from close colleagues, with ITV confronting Martin and informing him to change his conduct as a result.
According to Deadline, it was claimed that in 2018, while filming James Martin’s Saturday Morning, the presenter ‘launched a foul-mouthed tirade against staff’ when a drain in his home became blocked.
Martin issued an apology, in which he revealed his cancer diagnosis, after an incident from 2018 came to light (Picture: Rex)
Shortly after the reports emerged, Martin issued a statement saying he was ‘shocked by what had happened and on reflection acknowledges he responded emotionally, which he wholly regrets.’
He later apologised, telling The Sun: ‘Firstly, I would like to publicly and sincerely apologise to the crew involved in this incident, as I did at the time.
‘I have always strived to keep my private life private. However since details of a conversation, which was secretly recorded in January 2018, are now five years later being made public by a former member of our production team, I have decided to make a statement.’
Martin stated that the year before the incident occurred was ‘one of the most fraught and difficult periods of my life’, after the death of his last living grandparent, his home being burgled and the cancer diagnosis.’
‘After all this stress I was in a very emotional state, and when after filming in early January 2018 I discovered my home had been flooded while filming, I was extremely upset.
‘I can only say I am human and following a build-up of personal life pressure, I admit that I overreacted regarding the damage to my home.’
Macmillan cancer support If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
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