BBC manager Jonathan Wicks killed his wife for burning his roast beef dinner.

48-year-old Wicks, who worked on a number of UK's favourite shows, hit his wife Sarah with a single punch or slap during his birthday on May. Her death was caused by a ruptured artery in her neck.

Wicks pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and said that he acted on self-defence after his wife threw plates at him during their quarrel.

Prosecutor James Burbridge QC was quoted by the Daily Mail telling the Warwick Crown Court: "The prosecution accept that when Mr Wicks killed his wife he did not intend to kill her, but we say he committed an unlawful act."

"The act was a punch or a slap, but we say it was unlawful and it was violent, and he had no lawful reason to do it."

According to the court hearings, Wicks hit his wife last Sunday when all their guests were already gone. He then left and returned after 20 minutes and found Sarah unconscious.

"I've killed her. She was throwing plates at me and I hit her," he reportedly told the paramedics.

"Oh my God, what have I done? It should be me lying there. Just hit me with a blunt object.

"My wife is dead. I may have killed her. Do you really think I give a flying ****?," he said.

"Your procedures are really ******* annoying me," he told the police.

The trial continues.