The Duke of Marlborough let slip the most surprising secret of his rackety past during the time he was banged-up in prison: he became a Muslim to make sure he got enough to eat.

His change of faith apparently allowed him extra rations while he was behind bars.

Answering questions at the China Exchange from provocateur Sir David Tang, who prides himself on giving society guests a tough grilling, the former Marquess of Blandford confessed: ‘I changed religion when I went to jail. I became a Muslim because you got more food. It wasn’t the time of Ramadan. I luckily hit it just right – just afterwards!’

The Duke of Marlborough let slip the most surprising secret of his rackety past during the time he was banged-up in prison: he became a Muslim to make sure he got enough to eat

Jamie Spencer-Churchill also explained how he gave up hard drugs a decade ago – a habit which had led to his first spell as a guest at Her Majesty’s pleasure more than 30 years ago and various run-ins with the law down the years.

‘I don’t know whether it was age or something in my brain, or my wife, but it was around that time when I just felt “enough is enough”.’

His late father, the 11th Duke, he said, had come to understand better his eldest son’s addiction as he lay dying. ‘I remember I said to my wife, “I’m afraid this is the last night.”

‘I put the mobile phone by my bed that night and said to her, “This is going to go off at 5am”.

Jamie Spencer-Churchill also explained how he gave up hard drugs a decade ago. He is pictured being arrested in 1993

‘The phone went off at 5.03. The precursor to that was, “Dad, do you want me to come in and see you?” and he said, “No, no. I have just had a very large dose of morphine and I am enjoying it. I can quite understand why you had a problem.”

Tang cheekily asked: ‘So he was finally on your side?’

To which the Duke replied: ‘Yeah, he crossed the road. I said, “Enjoy it while you can.”

On his father’s death in 2014, Jamie took over Blenheim Palace, which he values less than the love of his wife Edla.

‘Actually I would be very happy in a wigwam as long as my dear wife is next to me.

‘But it is a great privilege to be at Blenheim. I waited long enough for it, as I am 62, and I am doing the best I can to be custodian so I can pass it on to my son George.

‘I would like to think I have broken the mould of the stiff British upper lip.’ Well, yes, Jamie, you can say that again!

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