Gordon Ramsay gets a roasting from Aussie PM over pig slur at show

The chef infuriated Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd by making offensive comments about Tracy Grimshaw, the host of Nine Network's A Current Affair programme.

Ramsay was also facing further allegations about his treatment of women with new footage of him taken before the interview with Grimshaw.

In makeup, he was filmed telling staff: "Christ almighty. Your f*****g breath stinks. F*****g caffeine. Turn round the other way."

In another shot, speaking about the station's weathergirl Lavinia Nixon, he said: "She doesn't know her arse from her elbow. She said it would be p*****g down with rain and it isn't."

He told another female reporter that if she ran a marathon she should rub extra-virgin olive oil into her nipples, saying: "Having run 10 marathons, extra-virgin olive oil is good for the nipples. Hot tip."

Ramsay today issued an apology in an attempt to contain the controversy.

A statement said: "Gordon was giving a live cooking demonstration at the BBC Good Food Show in Australia last weekend in front of a large and boisterous audience.

His comments relating to Tracy Grimshaw were off the cuff and in response to heckling from the audience.

"His intention was to make a joke and indeed he did raise a big laugh at the time.

"However, with hindsight he realizes that his comments were inappropriate and offensive to Tracy Grimshaw, and he has unreservedly apologised both to her and anybody else who may have been upset."

A friend of the chef said: "He shows this image of the pig to make a joke about swine flu, but someone in the audience shouted out that night 'It's Tracy Grimshaw'.

That's what kicked it all off. But he realises that what raises a laugh in front of 3,000 people, in the cold light of day is not appropriate.

"Comparing a woman to a pig is not cool. He is trying to get in touch with her to apologise in person and he is going to do a TV interview to explain himself."

Ramsay was also alleged to have suggested that Grimshaw was a lesbian, although he has denied using the word.

The interviewer hit back on her programme, describing the F-Word TV star as "an arrogant narcissist bully".

She added: "How many people would laugh if they were effectively described as an old, ugly pig?"

Mr Rudd waded into the storm today, praising Grimshaw. He said: "I think I can describe his remarks as reflecting a new form of low life.

"I just drew breath when I saw the sort of stuff which was said about her, I just think that's off and offensive. Good on Tracy Grimshaw for coming out and giving him a left uppercut."

Ramsay's live show followed an interview he gave the presenter on Friday, when he demanded that she not ask any questions about his private life.

During his show the chef put an image of a woman on her hands and knees with multiple breasts and the facial features of a pig on a big screen behind him.

He told the laughing crowd: "I'm not going to tell you the name but it begins with a T."

Responding on her programme, Grimshaw said: "How is that funny exactly? And worse it's not even witty.

"We all know that bullies thrive when no one takes them on. I am not going to sit meekly and let some arrogant narcissist bully me.

"Obviously Gordon thinks that any woman who doesn't find him attractive must be gay. For the record I don't and I am not."

Watch Tracy Grimshaw's response...