James Martin steps back from TV work as he opens up on cancer diagnosis
James Martin has announced a break from TV after opening up on his cancer diagnosis.
The This Morning chef underwent surgery for cancer on his face in 2018, and revealed it has returned on several occasions since then, and he's had to undergo 'regular treatments'.
This all came to light after Martin was accused of exhibiting bullying and intimidating behaviour when an audio of a 2018 production was leaked in July.
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Audio released from filming appeared to show him swear 42 times at staff due to a 'blocked drain at his home'.
"I am absolutely furious, beyond belief. It’s my home, it’s my house. It’s my f**ing house," he said in the 15-minute long audio.
"Nobody listens, nobody f**king listens do they.
"I will not put up with this, this is b*llocks."
Apologising for the incident, Martin said it was 'one of the most fraught and difficult periods of my life'.
The 51-year-old tweeted: "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.
"The end of 2017 was one of the most fraught and difficult periods of my life.
"I was dealing with the death of my last living grandparent, my grandfather, and on account of work commitments I could not attend his funeral.
"Later that month I was burgled at night by a team of masked men, who entered my house while my partner Louise was at home alone and I was away working.
"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."
On Monday evening (6 November), Martin stepped out at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool to perform a number of cooking demos, alongside his music band Midnight Ramblers.
At the end of the show he told fans he would be taking a break from TV.
According to Liverpool Echo's Ryan Paton, who went to the event, Martin said: "On a personal note, I just wanted to say thank you for 30 years of television.
"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."
Anish Vij