TV chef Antony Worrall Thompson has revealed he will be seeking psychiatric help after he was arrested for shoplifting from a local Tesco.

The star of Ready Steady Cook and Daily Cooks Challenge, who stole a total of £6 worth of “low-value” goods from the store, claimed that he has been sobbing himself to sleep from guilt each night.

At a loss to explain his behaviour, he said: “I’ve got to face up to it and that means seeking help – psychiatric help.”

Mr Worrall Thompson said his actions could have been a possible cry for help. He highlighted that he’s been under a lot of stress recently, both as a result of the death of close friends and personal health problems.

Furthermore, in an emotional interview with the Daily Express, the celebrity chef opened up about massive childhood traumas that could have come back to haunt him in his later life.

“I was abused as a child but I can’t blame my childhood for this. I hope I’m not going totally gaga in my old age. I have wondered whether it’s something like that but I hope 60 is too young for something like Alzheimer's and I do feel that I have to take responsibility for this.

“I bottle things up and something’s just snapped. I just don’t know what was going on in my head. It’s like a little devil sitting at my shoulder or something.”

This was the fifth time Mr Worrall Thompson stole items such as newspapers, bread and cheese from the Henley-on-Thames store.

“It’s not about me – it’s about all the people who have believed in me, including my family,” he concluded. “I want to make it up to all of them.”