Chatshow host Oprah Winfrey has revealed that Lance Armstrong admitted to doping during their interview yesterday evening.

The interview, which will be shown during the early hours of Friday morning in the United Kingdom, was filmed after reports had claimed that Armstrong had said sorry to staff at cancer charity Livestrong.

Despite revealing that the 41-year-old had admitted his deceit, Winfrey confessed that she was shocked by the way that he did it.

"I think the entire interview was difficult," she told the CBS network. "He was pretty forthcoming.

"I would say [Lance Armstrong] did not come clean in the manner I had expected. It was surprising to me and we were mesmerised and riveted by some of his answers."

Armstrong's interview with Oprah is believed to have lasted for just under three hours.