Gordon Ramsay has apologised again for comments he made about an Australian television presenter after a dressing-down from his mother.
The 'Hell's Kitchen' star was reported to have compared Australian television star Tracy Grimshaw to a pig in front of a 3,000-strong audience at a live cooking show in Melbourne on Saturday.
The incident prompted a furious row Down Under, with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd weighing in by calling Ramsay a "lowlife".
The 42-year-old chef's spokeswoman apologised on his behalf last night, but Ramsay has now gone on television to say sorry in person.
In an interview on Channel 9 in Australia the chef said his mother had been on the phone and when that happens it’s serious. He said "She was disgusted and she wanted to know what happened."
Ramsay used the interview to apologise directly to Grimshaw. "Tracy, where do I start? First of all, you've shown me great respect and amazing support over the last three or four years and I'd just like to take this opportunity to apologise for the stupid comments and am deeply mortified that the whole thing has gone this far. My apologies," he said.
The chef's remarks, which he apparently repeated at the cooking event on Sunday and Monday, came after a largely unremarkable interview with Grimshaw on her programme on Channel 9 - the same station that screens Ramsay's programmes in Australia.
He continued "I have made a big mistake - I went too far. If any of you guys (the crew conducting the interview) had called my wife a pig and it was in front of me, I would punch your lights out.
"I'm deeply, deeply sorry for the hurt that's been caused and I accept full responsibility and I want to put it to bed."
Ramsay added that he would be "eating humble pie for the rest of (his) life".
Grimshaw said Ramsay had rung her in person, and she accepted his apology
