James Martin has apologised for causing ‘offense or upset’ after an incident in 2018.
Reports emerged today accusing the TV chef 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.
He has now addressed the allegations, with his representative telling Metro.co.uk: ‘An unfortunate incident occurred after filming James Martin’s Saturday Morning in 2018 where James’ home was badly damaged. Blue Marlin Television accepted responsibility.
‘James was shocked by what had happened and on reflection acknowledges he responded emotionally, which he wholly regrets.
‘James apologises for any offence or upset caused, as he did at the time to the crew involved.’
The statement went on to say Martin agrees with the production company that ‘lessons have been learned’ after the incident and ‘issues’ during filming James Martin’s Spanish Adventures.
James Martin’s statement in full:
An unfortunate incident occurred after filming James Martin’s Saturday Morning in 2018 where James’ home was badly damaged. Blue Marlin Television accepted responsibility.
James was shocked by what had happened and on reflection acknowledges he responded emotionally, which he wholly regrets. James apologises for any offence or upset caused, as he did at the time to the crew involved.
Following this and some issues filming James Martin’s Spanish Adventures, James and Blue Marlin Television agree that lessons have been learned which have been discussed with members of the team and with ITV. Blue Marlin Television and James Martin have taken on board ITV’s recommendations and their sharing of best practice, and are in the process of fully implementing. Since the 2018 incident, Blue Marlin Television has continued to film over 500 shows at James’ home.
Blue Marlin Television remains committed to ensuring the welfare of all those with whom they work is of the utmost priority.
Deadline had also claimed that during filming for the programme – which follows previous instalments in countries including France and America – he sparked concern over the way in which he treated members of his crew.
It was alleged that while filming Spanish Adventure earlier this year, Martin was accused of reducing people to tears in front of their colleagues and changing schedules at the last minute, while arriving an hour later to a shoot scheduled for the morning.
A producer who has worked with the chef in the past told Deadline: ‘What’s remarkable is I saw this behaviour on every project I did with him and it feels conscious. I think he just feels like it’s OK to behave like that.’
It’s claimed that a senior figure at ITV spoke to Martin in the same week that ITV’s CEO Dame Carolyn McCall was questioned by MPs over former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield, his exit from the broadcaster and his admission that he lied about having an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a younger employee.
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ITV said that the welfare of the people who work on their shows was its ‘highest priority’ when questioned by Deadline over the complaints made about Martin.
An ITV spokesperson also said: ‘At ITV people and their welfare are our highest priority. The production companies who make shows for us have primary responsibility for the duty of care of everyone they work with, both on and off screen. We make clear our expectations in this regard as part of our pre-greenlight duty of care processes. This includes having appropriate independent controls in place to enable everyone who works on their shows to confidently and confidentially raise concerns.
‘Following a complaint we received in May from members of the Blue Marlin production team about the filming of James Martin’s Spanish Adventure, we contacted Blue Marlin to discuss these concerns and to understand how the issues raised were being addressed and what actions were being taken.
‘As a result, we made a number of recommendations for Blue Marlin to implement as soon as possible, sharing best practice of some of our own relevant procedures around staff welfare and reiterating our Supplier Code of Conduct.’
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