James Martin reveals hidden health battle which 'severely affects' his job

James Martin has opened up about his struggles with dyslexia, which makes presenting particularly challenging for him. Despite being a familiar face on TV, many fans may not be aware that the 52-year-old is "severely dyslexic", struggling with reading autocue and finding the task of presenting "really difficult".

While speaking with Kaye Adams on her BBC Radio Scotland show, James discussed how his hidden health battle affects his job. After receiving compliments from Kaye, who was "fascinated" by his multitasking skills in the kitchen, James admitted: "Weirdly, I can cook and talk at the same time, but presenting I still find really difficult. I'm severely dyslexic, so reading anything off an autocue is really hard work, so if I'm allowed to cook and chat, that's where I feel at home."

He also expressed admiration for the Scottish presenter's abilities, saying: "I'm watching you do your thing while I'm listening to music play and you're like a conductor. I can't do what you do and I certainly can't when I've been on Loose Women with you as well. I certainly admire anyone who's able to do that."

Previously undiagnosed until he was 30, Martin has spoken before about the challenges he faced due to dyslexia. In an earlier episode of his show, he opened up about the secret technique he uses to cope with his dyslexia while filming his cooking segments.

Speaking to newsreader Lucrezia Millarini, he shared: "Well, like you do the reading, I'm severely dyslexic. I have this amazing woman called Sam, Sam [on the] autocue, who puts stuff on bigger type for me so that I can properly read it." The Mirror reports.

The revelation follows James's update on his cancer journey during a chat on Lorraine earlier this year. The celebrated TV chef has undergone surgery to remove facial cancer following his initial diagnosis in 2018