Gordon Ramsay confronts diners with the sight of a shot deer

Like a caveman, the chef strolls through his restaurant past bemused diners with a freshly shot deer slung over his right shoulder.

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The scene is from the new series of The F Word, starting next week, in which Ramsay visits Norfolk to learn how to use a high-velocity rifle before attempting to stalk and shoot an animal himself.

While Channel 4 won't reveal the success, or otherwise, of his exploits, the Scot returns to his London restaurant - and venison is clearly on the menu.

Later in the series, Ramsay attempts to dive through ice in Norway to catch 6ft crabs.

"It's a bit of a challenge for Gordon every week," said an insider.

"The ice dive is completely mad and looks very dangerous. But whether he's actually any good at any of his exploits is another matter."

In the second episode, Ramsay is left embarrassed when he throws up after failing his own food challenge.

He dares Top Gear presenter James May to eat some of the world's most disgusting foods as a "test of manliness".

The pair begin by consuming a braised bull's penis, which Ramsay manages to keep down with the help of white wine. But then they move on to the task that proves too much.

As he unveils the plate, Ramsay challenges May: "This is basically rotten shark. You have to eat it without being sick - that is the true definition of a proper man."

But within seconds of trying to eat the fish, the chef himself gags, blusters "oh s**t" and is forced to rush for a bucket.

The insider said: "It's very funny. Gordon challenges May to a macho food stand-off and comes out of it rather the worse for wear. To be fair, the food they eat is pretty disgusting."

It is a rare moment of chagrin for the chef who delights in other people's discomfort.

He is famed for yelling at hapless restaurateurs and notoriously served meat to a vegetarian in his Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares series.

He has also been branded sexist for claiming "women can't cook".

In the latest The F Word series, the chef also taunts guests Girls Aloud for being too skinny and refuses to serve vegetarian band member Cheryl Cole.

He conducts a nationwide search for the "new Fanny Cradock" - because he says he is sick of seeing male chefs on TV - visits an abattoir for the first time and breeds lambs for slaughter in David and Victoria Beckham's back garden.