James Martin is taking "a bit of a break" to focus on his cancer battle.
James Martin is taking a break amid his cancer battle
The 51-year-old TV chef revealed over the summer that he has been battling facial cancer since 2018, having first undergone surgery five years ago before the disease returned on "several occasions".
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, he told fans at his recent show at the Philharmonic Hall: "For me personally, I've been through a lot of s*** 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."
He revealed his battle after The Sun newspaper reported earlier this year that he ranted at his staff online for 10 minutes about a blocked drain.
A whistleblower passed a recording of the sweary tirade after James was accused of bullying his crew following a string of incidents on the set of 'James Martin’s Spanish Adventure’.
He responded to 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.
“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 devastated that she had to go through that alone.
"On top of this I was then diagnosed with cancer on my face… 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.”
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