Featured Image Credit: ITV/Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Topics: UK News, ITV, Celebrity, Food And Drink
Joe Harker
Topics: UK News, ITV, Celebrity, Food And Drink
TV chef James Martin is facing allegations of bullying and intimidating behaviour while filming a show for ITV along with claims that the broadcaster told him to change his behaviour.
Deadline reports that Martin was told to change by ITV after some of his 'closest colleagues' made a complaint about him in May.
They report that the complaint raised concerns about the way Martin allegedly treated crew members on the production of James Martin's Spanish Adventure, a travel cooking show which is set to be shown on ITV this autumn.
Martin has worked for ITV for several years and Deadline reports that the broadcaster was previously made aware of alleged problems with the chef's conduct.
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They claim that during an incident on James Martin's Saturday Morning in 2018 he launched what they called a 'foul-mouthed tirade' against staff due to a blocked drain at his home.
Deadline reports that ITV was made aware of the 2018 incident through 'informal channels' but does not have a formal record of it.
They also report that Martin was spoken to by a 'senior ITV figure' in the week that channel boss Dame Carolyn McCall was speaking to a parliamentary committee about the conduct of Phillip Schofield.
She had said that ITV had a 'zero tolerance' approach to incidents of bullying and harassment.
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Blue Marlin, James Martin's production company, told LADbible that they did not receive contact from the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (BECTU) on the matter.
They also said that Martin's house and garden had suffered 'major damage' and the production company went on to repair it.
Martin spent a decade on the BBC's Saturday Kitchen show before moving to ITV in 2017 for his Saturday Morning programme.
In addition, he has made a series of food and travel shows for ITV as part of his Adventure series.
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"An unfortunate incident occurred after filming James Martin's Saturday Morning in 2018 where James' home was badly damaged. Blue Marlin Television accepted responsibility," said a statement from Blue Marlin.
"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.
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"Blue Marlin Television remains committed to ensuring the welfare of all those with whom they work is of the utmost priority."
A spokesperson for ITV told LADbible: "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.
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"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."