is set to ‘closely monitor’ productions after claims were made accusing him of ‘bullying and intimidating behaviour’, it’s been reported.
It recently emerged that , with the most recent one said to have come in May this year during filming for James Martin’s Spanish Adventure.
It was also alleged that in 2018, he when a drain in his home became blocked while making James Martin’s Saturday Morning.
According to a source close to ITV, the broadcaster will ensure that productions made by Blue Marlin Television – Martin’s company – will be ‘closely monitored’ in the future, reported.
In the publication’s on , it was claimed that five years ago, a formal complaint was made to the 51-year-old and his agent Fiona Llindsay over ‘repeated incidents of inappropriate, intimidating and bullying behaviour’ on his Saturday morning programme.
It was also alleged that while filming Spanish Adventure earlier this year, he reduced people to tears in front of their colleagues and changed schedules at the last minute, while also arriving an hour late one morning for a shoot.
In response to the claims, a statement released by his company Blue Marlin read: ‘An unfortunate incident occurred after filming James Martin’s Saturday Morning in 2018 where James’ home was badly damaged. Blue Marlin 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 Adventure, 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.’
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.’
Martin has worked on several shows for ITV over the years, including James Martin’s American adventure, This Morning and James Martin’s Islands to Highlands.
ITV declined to provide further comment when contacted by Metro.co.uk.
