I’m a Celebrity… may have seen two mildly famous people killing a wild rat and then eating it, leaving ITV to shuffle nervously and stare at their feet whilst they said sorry… but what about Italian chef Giuseppe “Beppe” Bigazzi? Well, he’s a TV chef over there and he’s caused an almighty ruckus and it all involves cats.

Bigazzi is watched by millions on the pre-lunchtime programme, La prova del cuoco. However, after 10 years on the box, he’s sat at home sacked.

Basically, he’s said that he likes eating cats. Yep, his remarks came after mentioning that, in post-war Italy, some people had taken to boiling stray cats to survive.

As his fellow-presenter, Elisa Isoardi, looked on horrified, Bigazzi told viewers that gatto in umido was “one of the great dishes of the Valdarno”. Seeing as we’re not exactly living in a European famine, people weren’t best pleased. He didn’t stop though.

He went on to say that the secret was to leave the cat in a fast-running stream for three days. “What comes out is a delicacy”, he enthused. “Many a time I’ve eaten its white meat… it’s better than chicken, rabbit or pigeon.”

During the break the producers tried to get the cook to apologise when the programme resumed. Then, the inevitable complaints came lighting the switchboard white-hot.

The Guardian reports that Italy’s National Animal Protection Board president, Carla Rocchi, announced they had instructed lawyers to begin proceedings against Bigazzi for inciting cruelty to animals.

Oh dear. Makes the misnaming of a Blue Peter cat seem a bit piddly really doesn’t it?