Former Made In Chelsea star Oliver Proudlock has said he is “truly sorry and mortified” after angering fans with an Instagram holiday selfie appearing to reference a Holocaust book.

The 32-year-old posted a snap of his vacation in Corfu on Wednesday in which he could be seen posing in blue and white striped trousers. The selfie was captioned “Boy in tha stripe pyjamas."

It was published as part of an Instagram Story - a format automatically deleted after 24 hours - and later disappeared from his feed. 

The post sparked an outpouring of criticism after online users pointed out the apparent reference to John Boyne’s 2006 Holocaust novel, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

One Twitter reaction read: “The biggest yikes I've seen in a while”.

Jesus, Proudlock. pic.twitter.com/XdITI1eVPT

— Joshua Zitser (@mrjoshz) August 18, 2021

Mr Proudlock has since apologised, writing in another Instagram story that he had “hurt a lot of people with my badly chosen words and I am so, so sorry.”

He added: “‘It was incredibly ignorant. I always want to set a good example on social media – to spread love, equality and positivity and yesterday I really let myself, and all of you down.

“I am so truly sorry and mortified for my actions.”

Mr Proudlock appeared in several seasons of the long-running E4 programme and is also the founder of a men’s jewellery brand.