Holly Willoughby ‘supporting’ James Martin amid bullying allegations as she stands by ITV chef

HOLLY Willoughby is standing by celebrity chef James Martin after he was accused of bullying.

This Morning presenter Holly reached out to her ITV co-star after a leaked recording heard James swear at staff 42 times.

It comes just weeks after the channel was thrown into crisis over Phillip Schofield.

His co-host Holly faced calls to quit, but will return to the present the show in September.

She's since offered her support to James who was allegedly warned by ITV over claims that he reduced crew members on his show to tears.

An insider told The Sun: "Holly's been supporting James Martin ever since the bullying allegations came to light.

"He was there for her when everything was kicking off at ITV and now she's returning the favour.

"They're good friends and are keeping in touch - despite both being off-screen on This Morning over summer."

James's ten-minute tirade revealed by The Sun happened in 2018, but came to light after a new swathe of complaints were made about the chef’s conduct while filming James Martin’s Spanish Adventure this year.

It sparked an internal investigation into his behaviour, which James claims was brought on by "pressure" he was under after a shock cancer diagnosis.

The TV chef, 51, described the end of 2017 as "one of the most fraught and difficult periods of my life".

Martin said he underwent surgery for cancer on his face in 2018 - before it returned on "several occasions".

He also revealed how he was burgled by a masked gang and his grandfather tragically passed away in the same period.

James spoke out to defend how his anger boiled over after a drain was blocked at his home during filming for Saturday Morning.