Virgin Media star Martin King has recalled the “toughest day” in his career when his wife was told she had cancer. The Weekend AM host was left devastated after Jenny McCarthy, a celebrity photographer, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2010. She had surgery the following year.
But in 2022, she was dealt another devastating blow when doctors told her they needed to remove a second brain tumour. Martin said it was the toughest day in his life as he had to continue working, despite the horrific news.
He added: “At that time I was presenting the morning show with Sybil [Mulcahy]. I remember getting the news back in 2010 that there was something in Jenny’s head that shouldn’t be there.
“I had to pull myself together and go in and present the show. That was probably one of my toughest days on TV or radio. That was pretty tough.
“And then when the thing came back, I was on the Six O’Clock show and I used that to see me through because I couldn’t go into the hospital. We were coming out of Covid, but you still weren’t allowed in so the day of the surgery I had to take that day off.”
But Martin admitted his work did help him escape his troubles – albeit briefly. He said: “It was both an escape and there were days when it was tough.”
Support from Virgin Media
The popular Dubliner praised the station and his work colleagues for their “amazing support” during his family’s ordeals. Martin added: “I was called up by the then CEO David McRedmond and he just said, ‘Take whatever time you need, don’t worry about money’.”
Jenny McCarthy's Recovery
Martin also revealed Jenny now only needs to be seen by doctors once a year, not every three months. He said: “Jenny is great. She had a scan a couple of months ago and she was told what we wanted to hear, which was we will see you in 12 months and that is what we got.
“You can't live like that, always worrying, you can't live from scan to scan.
“We had a great holiday in Orlando recently and we are going to skip off to Tenerife at the end of next week. Life is for living.”
A Long Career at Ireland AM
Martin is back working on Ireland AM 25 years after the show first aired. He said: “TV3 was celebrating its first anniversary and the plan was that on the date we would launch Ireland AM. The station is 26 years old and Ireland AM is 25 years old.
“The first show was 90 minutes long, it went from 7.30-9am. Now, it’s a three hour beast.
“It’s a three hour magazine show that goes out seven days a week. There is a lot of work.”
Martin joined TV3 from 98FM about six weeks before they went on air and he knew it was a big risk at the time. He said: “You have got to take some risks. I always felt that what I do would be better suited to TV.
“I was told that throughout my radio days. That is why I took the job.
“Also, I had worked with the guy who offered me the job on a number of radio stations. He said to come over because they had a plan.”
Looking Ahead
Martin has shared details of one of the toughest days in his life as he had to continue working, despite receiving horrific news. He has also shared his gratitude for the support he received from Virgin Media. He and his wife Jenny McCarthy are now enjoying their lives, and they are looking forward to the future.
Ireland AM is celebrating 25 years on air and it airs from 7am – 10am on Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play Monday to Friday and from 9am - 12pm on Saturday and Sunday
