In the ranks of unlikely vegetarians, celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall must rank pretty highly, along with, say, Brian Blessed and Wolverine from X-Men.
And yet, a report today carries news that Fearnley-Whittingstall, who published a book called River Cottage Meat, is considering relinquishing flesh.
The Independent picks up on a column the chef has written for Channel 4's property magazine, 4Homes, in which the philosophy graduate says he has been "thinking about the whole vegetarian / carnivore thing".
The Old Etonian, who is pictured on his website with a pig under his arm that looks like it is soon going to end up in his pot, writes that he has been thinking about his eating habits after a discussion with his son Oscar.
"Why exactly do I eat meat? I don't think it's particularly good for me (partial as I am to the fattier cuts). I abhor the way most of it is produced. And, much as I enjoy eating it, I don't imagine life without it would be unbearable."
The Vegetarian Society is quite excited about the story as Fearnley-Whittingstall was someone often "wheeled out" in opposition to vegetarianism. A spokesman from the Meat and Livestock Commission was, however, less keen at the idea of a herbivore Fearnley-Whittingstall.
But the Indie wonders - as do we - whether the remarks are a publicity stunt to promote his new book and television series - in which case News blog has probably been stitched up like a kipper.
