James Martin has shared what makes presenting ‘really difficult’ for him, having received a diagnosis at the age of 30.
The James Martin’s Saturday Morning star, 52, finds it easier to cook and chat with the guests on his shows than do any formal hosting because he has ‘severe’ dyslexia.
As a result, the language processing disorder makes it hard for him to read an autocue.
Appearing on Kaye Adams’ BBC Radio Scotland show, he praised her work and said: ‘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.’
He complimented: ‘I certainly admire anyone who’s able to do that.’
‘Weirdly, I can cook and talk at the same time, but presenting I still find really difficult,’ James continued.
‘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.’
James has made no secret of his dyslexia in the past.
Following many difficult years and after his diagnosis in adulthood, James previously said on his show: ‘A lot of this crew think I’m ignoring them; it’s mainly because I have trouble reading a script.’
Speaking in 2022 while on Loose Women, James, who split from his girlfriend of 12 years in March, noted how the signs of dyslexia made themselves clear while he was in school.
However, he’s been able to turn his struggles into triumph, having written 34 books since.
He now believes that the condition ‘inadvertently gifted [him] with an interview style people seem to find relaxing’, despite him not always finding it easy.
His comments about dyslexia come after James revealed in summer 2023 that he had been battling facial cancer since 2018.
He first underwent surgery six years ago before the disease returned on ‘several occasions’, and in November last year, he pledged to take a ‘bit of a break’ to focus on his health.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, he told fans at a show at the Philharmonic Hall: ‘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.’
Expressing his gratitude, he added: ‘I just wanted to say thank you for all your support and all your messages.’
And in April, he confirmed he had made progress.
He said on Lorraine: “As you know, the last time I was on, I was in the middle of operations.
‘But as we speak, the stitches are falling out of my body at the moment.
‘So yeah, that’s all clear – onwards and upwards!’
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