In December 2020 she left fans in stitches with her bizarre pronunciation of an essential kitchen appliance.

And now TV chef Nigella Lawson, 62, has said she feels self conscious about using the word microwave after her pronunciation ‘meecro-wahvey’ went viral.

During an appearance on BBC Breakfast on Christmas Day she told host Jon Kay she now simply refers to the machine as a ‘you-know-what’.

When questioned on the incident she said: ‘I wasn’t quite aware I’d said it because that’s what I call it at home’.

Before revealing how she is now often approached by members of the public who explain their own family’s mispronunciations.

TV chef Nigella Lawson has said she feels self conscious about using the word microwave after her pronunciation ‘meecro-wahvey’ went viral in 2020

During an appearance on BBC Breakfast on Christmas Day she told host Jon Kay she now simply refers to the machine as a ‘you-know-what’

Asked if she would be saying ‘meecro-wahvey’ over the festive period she said: ‘I’m not. It’s made me quite self-conscious now. I tend to refer to it as the you-know-what now’.

She previously revealed she was avoiding using the word microwave entirely after baffling viewers of her Eat, Cook, Repeat programme.

In a new clip giving cooking fans advice on how to steam her Speedy Steamed Syrup Sponge, she calls a microwave the ‘you-know-what’ to avoid the social media meltdown she experienced last time.

Speaking to the audience directly as she explains how to best steam her pudding, Nigella says: ‘You’re impatient to eat it – it’s madness since they take hours to steam.

‘But I have an alternative method.

‘I give it a brief blast in the you-know-what,’ Nigella explains, giving a smirk and wide-eyed look to the camera.

‘Got to be quite careful because steam is hot and golden syrup is hotter than anything.

‘I won’t argue if you want custard or ice cream but for me, I want lots of cool double cream. One of my desert island dishes.’

During an appearance on BBC Breakfast on Christmas Day she told host Jon Kay she now simply refers to the machine as a ‘you-know-what’

Before revealing how she is now often approached by members of the public who explain their own family’s mispronunciations

She previously revealed she was avoiding using the word microwave entirely after baffling viewers of her Eat, Cook, Repeat programme

London-born domestic goddess Nigella caused a stir many times throughout the BBC2 series when she said ‘meecro-wahvey’, from a recipe for buttered toast to adding liquorice pellets to cheesecake.

While knocking up the rich mashed potatoes with butter, Nigella explained to fans: ‘I still need a bit of milk – full fat – which I’ve warmed in the meecro-wah-vey.

The pronunciation is close to the way the word is said in Italian and Spanish, but it’s not clear if Nigella was joking or if this is her usual intonation.

Many fans quickly took to Twitter to comment on the bizarre pronunciation, with some branding her a hero, while others were more baffled.

‘The way @Nigella_Lawson just pronounced ‘microwave’ is a defining moment of 2020. #CookEatRepeat,’ said one.

‘Henceforth, ‘mecrowavay’ shall forever be in my vocabulary and microwave will cease to exist Queen @Nigella_Lawson has spoken,’ another joked.

While knocking up the rich mashed potatoes with butter, Nigella explained to fans: ‘I still need a bit of milk – full fat – which I’ve warmed in the meecro-wah-vey

‘And the country obeyed. Hence forth #meecrowavaay is the new national roll out,’ said a third.

‘@Nigella_Lawson ’s microwave pronunciation has ended me, I LOVE it,’ added another.

‘Meekro-wavé – brilliant!! Also, I did not know I needed a mechanical potato masher in my life,’ commented one.

‘Word of the day is “Mee-cro-wah-vay”: an electronic device used to heat things, courtesy of Nigella Lawson,’ said one.

Hilarious: Many fans quickly took to Twitter to comment on the bizarre pronunciation, with some branding her a hero, while others were more baffled

Others described her as ‘legendary’ adding it made them ‘howl’.

‘I think that one legendary sentence shall forever remain up there as my fondest moment and memory of 2020- I don’t think I’ll be able to call it a microwave ever again,’ said one.

‘This made me howl.. my kind of humour is mispronouncing words too,’ said another.

‘Today’s episode is the gift that doesn’t stop giving: Meekrowaav-A,’ joked a third.

Unique: While knocking up the rich mashed potatoes with butter, Nigella explained to fans ‘I still need a bit of milk – full fat – which I’ve warmed in the meecro-wah-vey,’