'I've eaten a lot of chocolate': Nigella Lawson gives first interview since 'mortifying' trial

The TV chef said she did not 'pity' herself after the fraud trial of her and her ex-husband's former personal assistants

The way we argued: Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson told a US TV programme that having “distortions” of her private life “on display” during the fraud trial of her two former personal assistants was “mortifying”.

In her first TV appearance since her and her ex-husband Charles Saatchi’s personal assistants were acquitted, she said she only wanted to protect her children during the hearing: something, she said, “I couldn’t always do”.

Ms Lawson, who is best known for her work as a celebrity chef, was promoting her new Channel 4 project The Taste on ABC’s Good Morning America when presenters asked her about the court case.

"Since then I've eaten a lot of chocolate," said Ms Lawson, on how she got herself over the trial.

"[I have] had a very good Christmas and am into the New Year," she continued.

When questioned over what giving evidence as a witness in the trial of Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo was like, the mother-of-two said: “I can't really remember exactly because you're so focused on answering the questions to the best of your ability that actually you don't really have an enormous awareness of yourself.

"Maybe that's a good thing. My only desire really was to protect my children as much as possible which... Alas I couldn't always do."

She also reiterated that being called to the witness stand was like being on trial herself.

"To have not only your private life but distortions of your private life put on display is mortifying," she said, adding that other people experience "an awful lot worse and to dwell on any of it would be self pity and I don't like to do that."

Ms Lawson will appear on The Taste on 7 January, when it will become clear how the trial has affected her popularity with UK audiences.