Elizabeth Hurley dated Hugh Grant from 1987 to 2000 in what was easily one of the era’s most beloved celebrity romances.

However, the pair split eight years into their romance, after Grant was arrested in Los Angeles for lewd conduct with a prostitute. At the time, the Notting Hill star was quick to release a statement of regret, saying: “Last night I did something completely insane. I have hurt people I love and embarrassed people I work with. For both things I am more sorry than I can ever possibly say.”

Since then, though, he and Hurley have remained firm friends – so much so that Grant is the godfather of Hurley’s son, Damian.

Now, in the latest episode of The Jess Cagle Interview, Grant has labelled himself an “idiot” for his past behaviour.

“I was just an idiot. I didn’t try to say, ‘I’ve got this psychological problem.’ I just said, ‘I did it,’” said the Paddington 2 star.

When asked how he and Hurley had managed to maintain such a genuine friendship in spite of their highly-publicised split, Grant said: “We’re like brother and sister.”

He continued: “I think it’s partly because we went from zero to somewhere together, and we went through terrible years at the beginning when neither of us had any work, living in a tiny flat.

“It was quite bonding.”

Elizabeth Hurley and Hugh Grant on how they stayed friends after their break-up