Jamie Oliver has defended himself against critics who blasted him for swearing 23 times during a recent episode of Ministry Of Food. He has said that people should not expect him to act like David Attenborough when he just wants to be himself.

Oliver pointed out that he does not swear during his cookery programmes but does during documentary shows where he is emotionally connected to the subject matter.

“There was a lot of swearing in Ministry but I was incredibly emotionally attached to it. When I am making these documentaries I never think about what is appropriate, I’m just wearing my heart on my sleeve,” he told The Mirror.

“I am not David Attenborough. I want people to relate to me down the pub, and every now and again the pub is not fine dining, is it? But it won’t happen again. It’s as simple as that.”

He added: “I am sorry. It apparently lessens the effect of the good things I want to say, but it is after nine o’clock and there is a remote control. I’ll have to make an effort not to swear, or hope that the production company covers my a**e and edits out all that naughty swearing.”