SULTRY chef Nigella Lawson claimed her famous flirtatious manner is down to clever editing and accidental double entendres.

Speaking to an audience at the Oxford Literary Festival, Miss Lawson, famous for her cooking shows Nigella Bites and Nigella Express, said her apparent sexy image is completely unintentional

The 57-year-old said: “I was astonished to be told I was suggestive and coquettish and so forth because the reality is I’m a straightforward person.I haven't got a coquettish manner.

"I want to say two things. One is that television is glamourising so they always make you look nicer than you look. Two is that it's an editor's medium so obviously how you put something together will reinforce that.

"But I'll do something and people will say it's rude or a double entendre and I feel like saying: 'Can you please explain it to me? I don't get it'.”

The festival will run until April 2.

For more visit oxfordliteraryfestival.org