ITV ‘poaches popular farmer to front new cooking show’ after James Martin revealed he’s taking a TV break amid cancer battle

According to a new report, ITV has poached a popular farmer from rival channels to front a brand new cooking show, which is set to launch in February.

It has been alleged that Jimmy’s Farm star, Jimmy Doherty, 48 – who usually appears on BBC or Channel 4 – has been signed up to host a new five-episode ITV cooking show, titled Jimmy’s Taste of Florida. 

The news come as celebrity chef James Martin, 51, recently announced he would be taking a break from TV amid his cancer battle. 

According to the The Sun, Jimmy’s new ITV show was unveiled earlier this week at Visit Florida’s World Travel Market dinner in London.

Footage is said to have shown the farmer showcasing his new adventure – beginning off in Pensacola, Florida before travelling around the country and ending his trip in Miami.

Time out: ITV has ‘poached a popular farmer to front a new cooking show’ after James Martin revealed he’s taking a TV break amid cancer battle

Just days ago, James shared an update on his cancer battle with fans, saying he is ‘going on a little break’ from work in the coming weeks.

The TV chef, took his tour show to Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall on Monday and gave a heartfelt message to fans about his health while on stage.

According to The Daily Mirror, he said: ‘On a personal note, I just wanted to say thank you for 30 years of television. 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 landed in hot water earlier this year when his foul-mouthed rant at his TV crew was laid bare by an extraordinary leaked tape recorded shortly after his shock cancer diagnosis.

The TV presenter, who is at the centre of a bullying storm following allegations he intimidated staff on his food show James Martin’s Spanish Adventure, revealed that he had an operation to remove the facial cancer after his diagnosis in 2018.

The shock admission came after an extraordinary tape was leaked to The Sun where Martin berated his TV crew in a foul-mouthed rant over a blocked drain.

He told the newspaper that the outburst was the culmination of a string of unfortunate events in his life, which began with the death of his grandfather, then was followed by a home invasion by masked burglars, and finally his cancer diagnosis.

New signing: It has been alleged that Jimmy’s Farm star, Jimmy Doherty, 48, has been signed up to host a new five-episode ITV cooking show, titled Jimmy’s Taste of Florid

He said: ‘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.’

The abusive ten-minute tirade at staff during a Zoom call in 2018. which happened during the production of his show, James Martin’s Saturday Morning, took place on a heated Zoom call in 2018 – the same year he had surgery for his cancer.

Martin said he ‘wholly regrets’ getting angry, and agreed ‘lessons have been learned.’

Afterwards, The Daily Mail exclusively revealed he could face being axed by ITV after senior bosses were left furious at his behaviour.

Health: Just days ago, James shared an update on his cancer battle with fans, saying he is ‘going on a little break’ from work in the coming weeks

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