TV chef James Martin has disclosed that he was diagnosed with facial cancer several years ago, a revelation that comes amid reports of his mistreatment of production staff. In a series of tweets, Martin described the end of 2017 as "one of the most fraught and difficult periods of my life," citing the diagnosis, his grandfather's death, and a home burglary as contributing factors.
Martin's announcement follows earlier complaints about his behaviour on ITV's James Martin's Saturday Morning in 2018, when he became upset after a drain blockage caused flooding at his home, where the programme was filmed. In a joint statement, Martin and production company Blue Marlin said they "agree lessons have been learned" regarding the incident.
In his statement, Martin apologised to the crew involved, saying he "overreacted regarding the damage to my home" after a buildup of personal stress. He also revealed that the cancer has returned several times, requiring ongoing treatments.
Fresh complaints about Martin's conduct emerged from the filming of his Spanish Adventure programme in May 2023, with reports of him berating staff and reducing them to tears. ITV stated that following a complaint, they made recommendations to Blue Marlin regarding staff welfare and reiterated their Supplier Code of Conduct.
