In the programme to be screened next Tuesday, presenter Janet Street-Porter travels to France to buy horse meat, which she then cooks and sells to punters at Cheltenham Racecourse.

But the feature has raised concern among animal welfare groups, who claim the stunt on the Channel 4 show "reeks of desperation".

Janet is filmed investigating red meat alternatives to beef, and urges them to "take seriously" the potential of horse as a nutritious food source.

Discussing the taste, Gordon says on the programme: "It’s quite gamey and packed with protein".

But a spokeswoman for the show said: "Gordon is talking about the actual flavour (of horse), but not actually endorsing it. It is Janet who urges people to try it."

It is not illegal to eat horse meat in Great Britain, although it it uncommon.

A spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said: "Truly talented chefs rely on their culinary skills, not controversy, to grab headlines.

"In a country where thousands of people go vegetarian each week, Ramsay’s attempt to be outrageous, first by positioning himself as a vegetarian hater, and now by having horse meat on his show, reeks of desperation."

Dr Julia Wrathall, head of farm animals at the RSPCA, said the charity would have significant concerns over horse welfare if the animals were imported for UK consumption.

Diners bemused by Gordon’s deer stunt - May 4 2007
Gordon Ramsay served up some fresh venison to his customers - by strolling through his restaurant with a dead deer slung over his shoulder.

The animal had only just been shot and diners looked on with a mixture of bemusement and horror.

The chef tested his hunting skills for the new series of his Channel 4 show The F Word, which begins next week.

He travelled to Norfolk and was taught how to use a high-velocity rifle - although Channel 4 have not yet revealed whether the deer in the show was killed by the star himself.

Elsewhere in the series, the foul-mouthed chef challenges Top Gear presenter James May to eat some of the world’s most disgusting foodstuffs as a "test of manliness".

The pair managed to eat braised bull’s penis, Gordon keeping his down by gulping white wine.

But he proved himself to be all mouth and no trousers when it came to the next dish on the menu.

"This is basically rotten shark. You have to eat it without being sick - that is the true definition of a proper man," he said.

But within seconds of trying to eat it, he was violently sick in a bucket.

An insider said: "It’s very funny. Gordon challenges May to a macho food stand-off and comes out of it rather the worse for wear. To be fair, the food they eat is pretty disgusting."

Gordon’s search for a woman in the kitchen - May 2 2007
Perhaps it’s not surprising for a chef, but Gordon Ramsay reckons a woman in the kitchen can be quite sexy.

The star, who’s launching a search for a new female chef as part of The F Word, says: "When I think of some of the girls I worked with in France, and listening to Angela [Hartnett, his chef de patron at the Connaught] when she flies off the handle; it’s quite sexy. It sounds great."

And he says the Find Me A Fanny search - named for the famous Fanny Cradock - is looking for someone who can hold their own.

"Anyone that can present, looks good in a ball gown, can beat the crap out of their husband and then beat the crap out of me," he says.

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