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Wed 16 Sep 2009, 11:08 am UTC

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TV chef James Martin apologises for anti-cyclist article

By BikeRadar

British TV chef James Martin, who caused uproar with a newspaper column that said he hates cyclists and caused a group of riders to crash, has apologised on his website for any offence caused.

But the Saturday Kitchen star stopped short of apologising for the content of the piece in last weekend’s Mail On Sunday.

Martin, who says it was never his intention to offend cyclists, wrote in his review of a Tesla Roadstar electric car: "God, I hate those cyclists. Every last herbal tea-drinking, Harriet Harman-voting one of them.”

He went on to describe how, because of the silent electric motor in the car, he “stepped on the gas, waited until the split second before I overtook them, then gave them an almighty blast on the horn at the exact same time I passed them at speed”.

"The look of sheer terror as they tottered into the hedge was the best thing I've ever seen in my rear-view mirror," he wrote.

The UK’s national cyclists’ organisation CTC, has been bombarded with furious emails about the article. Multiple Olympic gold medal winner Bradley Wiggins tweeted about it and ProTour sprinter Robbie McEwen also waded in on the issue via his Twitter page – but has since accepted Martin’s apology.

Tesla distanced themselves from Martin's comments, saying they would not run his review on their website as they were a cyclist-friendly company.

Martin, who holds the world record for carrot chopping, says on his website that what “was intended to be a humorous piece was clearly misjudged”.

He says: "It was never my intention to offend the many cyclists who share our roads across the country… Furthermore, I do not condone any form of reckless driving. I am sincerely sorry for any upset caused in relation to this article.”

Do you accept this apology? Let us know in the comments section below. Check out the opinion of BikeRadar’s John Stevenson in his blog.

User Comments

There are 100 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 30 of 100 comments

  • I will stop short of being abusive, but he's not really gone anywhere near a proper apology, has he? People in a decent media position should know better...as if cycling in the uk isn't dangerous and challenging enough already, what a prat.

  • I don't think the guy really knows his own mind (I am not trying to defend him!).

    He probably felt that his original comments, delivered in the style of Jeremy Clarkson, would strike a chord with motorists and protagonists of 'lad culture' and make him more popular, perhaps raise his profile on tv and launch him into true b list celebritydom.

    He failed to realise that the world has moved on in the last few years. Cycling is now more main stream and celebrity cyclists are more famous and highly regarded than he is!

    Poor, stupid, insignificant man.

  • It was never his intention to offend cyclist? Hello what was he thinking?

  • His apology just goes further to show what a bloody idiot this man is.

    Mark my words it won't stop here I bet he will be slipping up again due to his arrogance and general pathetic thinking.

    I do feel a little sorry for him he obviously isn't a very clever person although he is obviously a hard working chef -- sometime people should stick to what they know.

    Like me James is no writer.

    Maybe this is what the late great Keith Floyd was on about when he said that all the tv chefs were C--TS due to their greed for tv fame they forget what they should be about and thats good cooks.

  • What a pointless fat-lad he is. His actions are typical of people who feel conscious of their own physical ineptitude and rather than do something to rectify it they take their frustrations out on those that symbolise everything they cannot be.

  • I wouldn't call it an apology myself. Saying the article was misjudged is just as much an insult as the article itself. What a douchebag :-)

  • A full and proper apology, before he is considered a pariah by the media. I already consider him a waste of space.

  • Apology not accepted. It's just a PR exercise to try to limit the damage.

    James Martin you're still a moron.

  • Isn't 'Saturday Kitchen Star' a contradiction in terms? Like 'tea-making hero' or 'TV Personality'.

  • So, he didn't want to hurt cyclist's feelings, just run them off the road and hurt them physically. Unless of course he is a pure fantasist and the event never happened in which case he has no credibility.

    Not much of an apology.

  • By the looks of him, he could do with a few hours on a bike

  • "world carrot chopping champion" need we say antmore about this tw@t

  • I'm with Davisee on this one.

    If the planned attack on the riders did take place on the road. I think that someone needs a visit from the police. If it took place in his head, I think that that same person needs to speak to his doctor.

    Ah, celebrities.... don't you just love 'em. NOT!!

  • I agree 'daviesee', the apology doesn't make sense. If the incident which James described actually happened, the apology should include the actual group of riders involved & not just cyclists in general. So why are they not mentioned? Did it actually happen..?

  • The man's a wanker.

    Almost as bad as his behaviour towards the riders in question is the suggestion that cyclists vote for Harriet Harman!

    Take note, Chef Tosser; Boris and Cameron ride bikes, Harman has a speeding conviction! She sounds more your sort than the blue boys do!

    Hopefully we won't see the likes of Hoy or Pendleton on this guy's show - but we'd miss it cos we'd be out on our bikes anyway!

  • Come on, I am a very keen cyclist too and its difficult when you get constant grief from moror vehicles.... its clear James hasn't had a good education, or more to the point, be too up on day to day stuff ... he was reviewing an electric car ....as he saw the cyclists, "he stepped on the GAS" ....GAS ?? an electric car ??...he needs help ....anyone ?

  • I'll keep it simple: What a cock.

  • He has confessed to (boasted about?) committing a crime. Why has he not been charged with dangerous driving?

  • Anybody who watched him attempt the millie miglia in a £750,000 Maserati will know how much of a c%&k he is . Try to catch it and laugh has he blows the car up in the first day and then promptly bursts in to tears as his dream fades away .

  • Make a press complaint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    How to Do It.

    http://www.pcc.org.uk/complaints/form.html

    Magazine/Newspaper: Daily Mail

    Publication Date: 14/09/09

    Headline: The Tesla Roadster is the all-electric supercar that's as fast as a Ferrari

    Internet link to article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1211917/JAMES-MARTIN-The-Tesla-Roadster-electric-supercar-thats-fast-Ferrari.html

    Please explain how you believe the Code of Practice has been breached: (you should use your own words, but here are mine)

    It specifically refers to scaring cyclists using a car. If it is true, then not only does this break the law, but it is harrassment and intimidation. If it is not true then it is inaccurate, misleading or distorted information.

    Which specific clause(s) of the Code are you complaining under:

    Either 4 - Harrassment and intimidation or 1 - Accuracy.

  • Also, raise it as a discussion point on the BBC website.

    How to do it.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/2804227.stm

    Question:

    What is your point of view on the James Martin article in the Daily Mail yesterday, in which he revels in running cyclists off the road using a car? Should he be linked with the BBC?

    Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31768344319#/group.php?gid=31768344319

    Daily Mail (revised) article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1211917/JAMES-MARTIN-The-Tesla-Roadster-electric-supercar-thats-fast-Ferrari.html

    Cycling Weekly Response (including original offending text): http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/397154/celebrity-chef-attracts-wiggins-and-mcewen-s-fury.html

  • Seriously what a berk! He's just jealous of the fact that more people watched the TdF coverage than his sh**ty show!

  • His apology resembles that of a naughty schoolkid being forced to apologise by a teach to another kid "but I didn't meeeean it, it was only a jooooke'.

    As others have pointed out, he totally fails to apologise to the riders he attacked (I think that is a fair description of what he claimed to do?) or to apologise that he made that bit up in a childish attempt to big himself up.

    Apology not complete, thus not accepted. And its not even vaguely sincere-sounding...

    What does it take to charge him with the several crimes he has confessed to? Must the victims be found and make a complaint? Any legal experts here?

  • They should put his dick on a chopping board on tv on saturday instead of carrots OUCH!!!!!!

  • Bullshit PR apology.

    Attempting to shift the blame onto cyclists for "taking offence", implying a lack of a sense of humour. Tell me, wheres the humour in that article? Theres no way he could have written it without intending to cause offence, as his "apology" states.

    There are people on the road who do things like he apparently did, and seeing it in print reinforces their view that it's ok. The article can therefore legitimately be seen as an incitement to violence against cyclists.

    No mention of the actual act itself either. How about either admitting it happened (with an apology to the cyclists in question and some police action) or that you are delibrately misleading the public (against the press code and clear incitement).

  • What total hypocrisy to write such hate filled venom and say "It was never my intention to offend ...". Surely a professional communicator could never make such a bad misjudgement? The best gloss that can be put on it is that he thought this rant would appeal to the Mail on Sunday's editors and readers. Good reason never to buy the wretched MoS.

  • "celebrity" nonce...

  • an open letter to james amrtin on my blog > > > http://bianchista.blogspot.com/2009/09/open-letter-to-james-martin.html

  • If enough people view the story on the BBC website it will make the 'Most Popular' list and get seen by a lot more people. Pass it on:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8258247.stm

  • If he's genuinely sincere he should do a charity ride like the London/Brighton I d love to see him struggling up Dithchling Beacon. He'd probably spend all year and all his money trying to find a vintage Colnago to do it on which would suffer mechanical failure before he left Clapham Common and he'd spend the rest of the day crying!!!!

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