Mike Hosking v Nigella Lawson: Why celebrity cook's interview became a little heated

She's one of the most recognisable faces in the culinary world, and today British celebrity cook Nigella Lawson is in New Zealand on a fleeting visit to promote her latest book, At My Table.

And while her trip is a brief one, she managed to sit down for a forthright interview with Mike Hosking.

Speaking to the Newstalk ZB host, Lawson seemed a little riled when asked for her thoughts on the Me Too movement and her place as a woman in television.

Asked if she felt well treated "in general" as a female in her industry, Hosking added that he was hesitant to ask the question because he was "sort of sick of the subject".

Lawson responded: "You're sick of the subject?"

"Well,' continued Hosking, "is the industry sort of festering with sexism, generally?"

Quick to keep focus on the subject matter, Lawson answered: "Look, the world has a lot of sexism so, obviously all institutions do to some extent.

Nigella Lawson is in New Zealand for two events and to promote her latest cook book, At My Table. Photo / Getty Images

"I'm not staff at the BBC. I'm just someone who gets commission. Or I decide if it's going to be a commission or an acquisition, so it's a completely different matter."

Hosking followed by asking Lawson if she was bothered by male celebrity chefs' pay packets.

"... you don't go in there thinking what Ramsay got paid, or Oliver got paid and he's a man and I'm a woman. Does any of that exist at all, or not really?"

"I don't compare myself to other people. Ever," Lawson answered.

Hosking concurred: "That's a good way to be. Very good way to be."

Next on the menu was the Me Too movement. The host asked why it's important.

"Why is it important?! Because," Lawson simmered, "I think it challenges the assumptions along which society has gone for quite a long time. And I hope [it] will lead the way to a sort of rethink to what is acceptable and not acceptable behaviour."

Hosking managed to rile celebrity cook Nigella Lawson. Photo / Newstalk ZB

Hosking asked if she thought society had reached a tipping point, or if we're just entertaining the idea as a topic of conversation for a few weeks.

The TV cook expressed hope that "younger generations will want to live life, both men, and women, slightly differently.

"While an old way of behaving is being questioned, it's very difficult to say exactly how things will fall out. But I think, it seems to me, that if I had to put my money on it one way or another I would say 'yes' I think there will be changes."

At this point the conversation was steered back to food.

Listen to the full interview here: