James Martin's celebrity friends offer support after he apologises for short temper on set

Dermot O'Leary and Carol Vorderman are among the stars to have rallied round James Martin after he revealed his secret cancer diagnosis and mental health struggles.

The 51-year-old This Morning chef spoke out to apologise after he was accused of "bullying" behaviour for losing his temper with TV crew after a drain became blocked during filming of James Martin’s Saturday Morning at his home.

Martin revealed in his statement that he is being treated for skin cancer on his face, and at the time of the leaked recording from 2018 was also grieving the death of his grandfather.

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This Morning host O'Leary commented on Martin's statement on social media: "Chin up, shoulders back, butter ready to speed. X"

This Morning contributor Vorderman said: "So sorry you had to go through all of this. Wishing you all the be."

First Dates star Fred Sirieix wrote: "Such a shame you felt compelled to do this. Keep your head up. I’m looking forward to your next show and to see you again x"

Loose Women presenter Katie Piper posted: "Sending love to you James"

Celebrity MasterChef winner and former rugby star Phil Vickery commented: "You are an incredible inspiration"

Pop star Natalie Imbruglia said: "Oh man… sending you so much love. Sorry you are having to deal with this…"

And TV presenter and actor Denise van Outen shared: "James & @ralph_loulabelle I love you both so much! You’ve always made me feel welcome and you know hanging out with you guys on your show with you’re brilliant team is one of my highlights of the year. I’m so sorry this has been put out into the public domain, when I know you’ve already apologised in private. Sending loads of love to you guys . Can’t wait to see you soon."

In the recording from five years ago, leaked to The Sun, Martin can be heard shouting expletives at TV crew working at his home and telling them they most stand outside in the rain to eat lunch.

Martin said in his 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 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.

“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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“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.”

Watch: James Martin discusses making pasta for his village during the COVID pandemic