Richard Hammond says he 'humanely killed and ate' his family's pet chicken

Richard Hammond has told how he killed and ate his family's pet chicken.

The Top Gear presenter, 51, said he didn't flinch at the idea of killing the cockerel "humanely and ate him".

In a new interview he told The Radio Times: "I could still kill animals; I have done in the past...

"I killed a cockerel we had. He had to go so we dispatched him humanely and ate him."

Richard lives at home with his wife Mindy as well as their teenage daughters Isabella and Willow.

Richard Hammond shares he killed and ate his family's pet chicken (Getty Images)

Richard, who tests his survival skills in new show The Great Escapists with his co-star Tory Belleci, admitted he would be fine with killing animals on a desert island.

However, The Grand Tour host said he killed the made it clear he wouldn't kill for sport.

Indeed, although he is now eating meat again, he was vegetarian for one year.

Richard posing with his wife Mindy (WireImage,)

He added: "I wouldn’t kill for sport but on a desert island I’d be totally fine with killing as long as I had a spear to run after things."

Being a vegetarian was a "fascinating experience" for the star but he has told his fans he's gone back to eating meat since.

Having been a vegetarian for a year, Richard said he doesn't eat as much meat as he did before he made the huge diet change (Getty Images)

Having been a vegetarian for a year, Richard said he doesn't eat as much meat as he did before he made the huge diet change.

"I did go vegetarian for a year, which was a fascinating experience and I don’t eat as much meat now as I used to," he said.

Richard Hammond's full interview is available to read now in Radio Times.