James Martin issues apology to cyclists

Rex Features

James Martin has apologised to cyclists after making a gag about knocking them off their bikes when driving.

The Saturday Kitchen host wrote about his pleasure at seeing riders falling in hedgerows in his Mail On Sunday column.

Martin described the cyclists near his country home as "a bunch of City-boy ponces in fluorescent Spider-Man outfits".

He wrote: "Knowing they wouldn't hear me coming, I 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."

Martin's comments prompted a number of complaints on Twitter, Facebook and the Daily Mail website.

Cycling Plus magazine editor Rob Spedding told Sky News: "[Martin] is a third rate Jeremy Clarkson. He is Clarkson without the wit and makes us all out to be tree hugging, herbal tea drinking environmentalists.

"He has shot himself in the foot and there won't be any road bike riders tuning into his TV shows or buying his books in future."

Responding to the complaints, Martin said in a statement: "It was never my intention to offend the many cyclists who share our roads across the country. What was intended to be a humorous piece was clearly misjudged. Furthermore I do not condone any form of reckless driving."