Apparently Nigella Lawson's intermittent drug taking is going to corrupt the United States of America, hence why she wasn't allowed board a flight to LA on Sunday.

The chef - who admitted during the fraud trial of her former employees last year that she had taken cocaine and smoked marijuana - was travelling alone, and had cleared check in and security at Heathrow airport but was then told she couldn't get on the plane to Los Angeles.

A source told the Daily Mail: "She didn't seem to say much, but she did not look happy. She could not get on the flight so she had to turn around and leave." She then returned to check-in to collect her luggage.

It's thought US authorities had warned British Airways staff not to allow her to travel to California, as she would have been refused entry. That's a fair whack to travel only to be sent back on the next flight, so... every cloud.

The US ask all travellers if they've ever been arrested or convicted on drugs charges, and can prevent entry even if no charges have been brought.

Though the US Department of Homeland Security said it did not comment on individual cases, a spokesperson said: "In general, an alien found inadmissible will need a waiver of inadmissibility. Depending on the basis of their refusal they may be eligible to apply in advance of travel for a temporary waiver of inadmissibility. The waiver application process can be lengthy."

Not great news for Nigella  given she needs to shoot the US version of The Taste there.

Listen, I know rules are rules, and exceptions shouldn't be made for people just because of their status or that their livelihood partially depends on it, but it's just another scenario of how Nigella's subjected to the rough end of the stick. How many well documented drug takers have been permitted to enter the US? Some of them actually reside there.

A spokesman for the star said only: "We would never comment on Nigella's travel plans."

>Nigella asks American authorities: 'What about Keith Richards?!'