People often have their own idiosyncratic standards of kashrut. Some will scrupulously eat kosher meat at home yet tuck in to a rump steak out. Others will avoid pork like the plague but think nothing of a bit of beluga or lobster thermidor.

But Paul Danan must be unique. The former Hollyoaks actor, who appeared on Channel 4's Come Dine With Me last week, explained that although he did not eat pork, he had no problem with bacon, since it was crispy and resembled turkey rashers and therefore was different from "a big pink thing that looks as if it comes from a pig".

As his fellow-diners attempted to digest the logic, he caused them further bemusement when he served a starter of melon topped with a prosciutto twist, prompting one guest to the conclusion, "IQ of a sprout!"