Kevin Rudd has tried his hand at humour on his debut as a TV host with jokes about Australia’s Ashes campaign.

The former prime minister took on the guest host spot on an episode of CNN’s international global affairs program Amanpour on Saturday, Australian time, replacing Christianne Amanpour, who is on leave.

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His guests were Chinese vice-finance minister Zhu Guangyao, UN executive director for climate change Christiana Figueres and climate change expert professor Lord Nicholas Stern.

While he tackled hot-button issues such as the Chinese economy and climate change, the former Labor leader’s typical sense of humour was evident as he delved into the impact of sport.

Mr Rudd admitted it had been “a bit rough” travelling through London airport on his way to the show when a customs official reminded him of England’s recent Ashes victory.

“He says to me, ‘what do you call an Australian who’s good with a bat’?” Mr Rudd told the program.

“Respectfully, I replied, ‘I have no idea’.

“He then says to me, ‘a vet, of course’.”

“There’s only so much a former Australian prime minister can take,” Mr Rudd said, before predicting Australia would win this year’s Rugby World Cup.

England will be annihilated, he added.