Paul Henry contrite as Brian Edwards slams his foul-mouthed Canvas interview

Broadcaster Paul Henry has insisted he meant no harm or offence with comments he made in his expletive-laden interview with the Weekend Herald's Canvas magazine - but one commentator says it's a "career-wrecking ball".

Henry issued a statement through his employer Mediaworks last night which reportedly said: "I meant no harm or offence by what I said".

"There is absolutely no way the woman could have heard the conversation that took place. I would never want to make anyone feel uncomfortable."

Henry was referring to comments he made in an Auckland city restaurant while being interviewed by writer Greg Bruce for Canvas. A Mediaworks publicist was also present.

During part of the interview Henry is distracted by the "perfect breasts" of a woman sitting at a nearby table.

He launches into a lengthy discussion about the woman's "perfect titties" and the "adequate titties" of the friend she is dining with.

The woman eventually puts on a leather jacket - it is not known if she has heard the conversation.

Earlier, respected media commentator Brian Edwards slammed Henry.

Edwards, a well-respected broadcaster, author and columnist, wrote in a blog titled "Suicide Note from a Deranged Narcissist", on his own website that the interview was a "career wrecking ball" and he urged Henry to "get some help, mate".

"The paper teases readers in a banner front page headline: 'POTTY MOUTH PAUL - Has Henry finally gone too far?' Having read the piece my preferred headline would have been SUICIDE NOTE FROM A DERANGED NARCISSIST," Edwards wrote.

"Been there, done that. Though the interview I gave to a national newspaper in 1970, when I was making my name on the current affairs programme Gallery, was not riddled with expletives as this interview is. I've always thought that needing to pepper your language with 'f******' represented a failure in communication. Or perhaps just trying too hard to impress."

Edwards added: "My point is that I know about fame if only in your own backyard. It's corrosive and corrupting. It turns mild-mannered men and women into monsters.

"Been there! Experienced that!"

He questioned whether Henry had got to the point of his career that he was "overcome by some self-destructive impulse to smash it all down."

"Maybe you just want to test how far you can go before the adulation stops."

During the interview, Henry also has a conversation with his publicist about people who invite him to "mix and mingle" at events, referring to them as "morons."

"What are they morons, these people?"

"Yeah, because that's what I really want to do," Henry said. "I'm hanging out to have drinks and mingle."

Henry also said he wasn't loving his job.

"I'm not loving [my job] or hating it, I'm doing it. Some days are very satisfying, some days are less satisfying. But they're days."

It has been a tough week for Henry who was off air for two days looking after his mother Olive in hospital.