Embarrassing Bodies star Dr Christian Jessen has said that Italy’s coronavirus lockdown is “an excuse” to “stop work” and “have a long siesta” in a series of controversial remarks.

Jessen, 43, told FUBAR Radio’s Access All Areas that he believed the virus to be “like a bad cold really” and claimed that people are “more worried than we need to be.”

“This might be a little bit racist to say this, but you’ll have to make apologies, but do you not think it’s a bit of an excuse?” he said.

“The Italians, any old excuse to, you know, shut down everything and stop work for a bit and have a long siesta.”