After James Martin announced his retirement, ITV is apparently looking for a popular TV farmer to lead a new show on the channel.
The Saturday Kitchen actor, 51, disclosed in July this year that he had been diagnosed with face cancer, amid an apology for charges of bullying and coercive conduct while filming an ITV show.
Martin, who also appears on This Morning, underwent surgery in 2018 following the diagnosis, but it has since resurfaced on’several occasions’ for which he gets’regular treatments,’ and he has now stated that he will take a vacation but will ‘be back fighting’ in a few months.
In the meantime, ITV is said to be producing a new cookery programme with Jimmy Doherty.
The 48-year-old TV personality has headlined Jimmy’s Farm on Channel 4, participated in different series alongside Jamie Oliver, and starred on the BBC’s Jimmy’s Food Factory.
But now, according to The Sun, ITV are reportedly launching Jimmy’s Taste of Florida, which is said to air in February 2024.
Martin announced earlier this week that he was taking a professional hiatus and provided an update on his cancer treatment.
Speaking at his tour show at the Philharmonic Hall on Monday, he said, according to The Mirror: ‘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.’
Martin revealed his diagnosis earlier this year, saying: ‘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.’
His remarks followed an apology he delivered after an incident from 2018 came to light, with allegations in July accusing the This Morning guest of harassing and aggressive conduct while filming an ITV show.
Shortly afterwards, he issued a statement saying he was ‘shocked by what had happened and on reflection acknowledges he responded emotionally, which he wholly regrets.’
He later apologised, telling 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.’
Martin stated that the year before the incident occurred was ‘one of the most fraught and difficult periods of my life’, after the death of his last living grandparent, his home being burgled and the cancer diagnosis.’
‘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.
‘I can only say I am human and following a build-up of personal life pressure, I admit that I overreacted regarding the damage to my home.’
Saturday Kitchen airs tomorrow at 9.15am on BBC One.
