[Arneldo]

SURLY Jim Davidson has been axed from Hell’s Kitchen for anti-gay slurs.

Bosses dragged Jim, 53, into urgent talks after he called homosexuals “shirtlifters.”

Gay former Big Brother star Brian Dowling was in tears as Jim ranted: “Go on. You play the whole homophobic card — you are a ********** disgrace.”

ITV chiefs had no option but to give him the boot. A senior show source said: “Jim got up and got a frosty reception from the other celebs. He wrote to producers asking to leave.

“But he was called into a meeting with producers and they asked HIM to leave over his comments.”

Trouble stirred on Sunday when Jim told Brian and singer Paul Young about a look he believed he got from a table of diners. He said: “Why do shirtlifters pull that same face?” Brian said: “Please don’t say shirtlifters, it’s really rude.”

Jim said: “I don’t care. Gay men have the same look — some gay men have the same look.”

Brian asked: “What look? Do I do have that look?” Jim replied: “No, only when you put it on — it’s a sort of preen.”

Later Brian, 29, claimed Jim had called him a shirtlifter. Jim replied: “I didn’t call you a shirtlifter, I said why do shirtlifters have that certain look. You said I don’t like that word so I said ‘I beg your pardon’.”

Brian said: “No you didn’t. You said, ‘I’ll say what I want’.”

Jim replied: “Fair enough. You play the homophobic card you are a ********** disgrace.”

Sobbing Brian said: “I find you the most offensive person I have ever met in my whole entire life.

“I find you so upsetting. I don’t play the homophobic card.”

An ITV spokesman said: “ITV does not condone comments that could potentially offend someone.”

The Sun