Green is accused of trying to silence and pay off his alleged victims with non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

At least five complaints made against him, including allegations of sexual harassment and racial abuse, were blocked in this manner, according to an investigation by the Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper was initially unable to name the Topshop boss due to a High Court injunction, a measure that was swept aside on Thursday when Labour peer Lord Hain invoked his parliamentary privilege to out Green as the businessman behind the allegations.

In a statement, Green denied “unlawful sexual or racist behaviour”. This new interview is the first time he’s responded in detail to the furore branded as “Britain’s #MeToo scandal” (with parallels to Hollywood director Harvey Weinstein, who also used NDAs to gag his alleged victims).

“The whole thing is disgusting, this has got nothing to do with any sexual misconduct. It’s nonsense,” Green said. He also hit out at Lord Hain, describing the peer’s decision to publicly name him as “just disgusting”.

Former staff accuse Green of bullying and swearing at his employees, often reducing people to tears. He was said to be sexually and racially abusive, and behaved inappropriately, according to complaints.

Images: Getty

There was "banter", says Philip Green, as he rejects abuse claims