James Martin shares cancer diagnosis update in speech ahead of career break

07 November 2023 , 16:13

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James Martin shares cancer diagnosis update in heartfelt speech ahead of career break (Image: Getty Images)

James Martin shared an update on his cancer journey at the end of his show in Liverpool on Monday evening, after revealing in July he'd been diagnosed with the disease.

The This Morning chef stepped out at the Philharmonic Hall last night, entertaining guests with an energetic show of cooking demos and musical numbers from his band, Midnight Ramblers. As the performance drew to a close, James delivered a heartfelt message of gratitude to the crowds before giving new details on his health.

The 51-year-old announced in July he had been diagnosed with facial cancer a few years ago, after apologizing to his crew for his behaviour on the set of Saturday Morning in 2018.

James Martin shares update on health (Getty Images)

James revealed he'd been diagnosed with cancer a few years ago (Getty Images)

"On a personal note, I just wanted to say thank you for 30 years of television," he said at the event attended by Liverpool Echo's Ryan Paton, prompting a standing ovation from his adoring supporters. The Yorkshire native, who is best known for presenting the culinary series Saturday Kitchen from 2006 to 2016, then revealed that he'd be taking a short break from his career to prioritize his wellbeing.

"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," he said. "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."

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James landed in hot water in July after a foul-mouth ranted of his leaked online. The culinary star was caught on tape hurling abuse at crew during production of his Saturday Morning show. In the expletive-riddled recording, James can he heard raging that his drain at his home has been blocked during filming and claiming that the damage was costing him £30,000.

"I am absolutely furious, beyond belief. It’s my home, it’s my house. It’s my f**ing house," he says 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."

James later took to Twitter to issue an apology to the crew, in which he admitted he was going through a difficult time in his personal life.

"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," he tweeted.

"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 devastated that she had to go through alone."

Ryan Paton