Gracie bravely co-hosted Monday’s Today programme with John Humphrys (before which she tweeted “wish me luck”), but it has since emerged that Humphrys discussed Grace’s situation with Sopel on the phone that morning before they went on air.

In a transcript of the chat, Humphrys says: “Slight change of subject, the first question will be how much of your salary you are prepared to hand over to Carrie Gracie to keep her, and then a few comments about your other colleagues, you know, like our Middle East editor [Jeremy Bowen] and the other men who are earning too much.”

Sopel responds: “I mean, obviously if we are talking about the scope for the greatest redistribution I’ll have to come back and say well yes Mr Humphrys, but …”

Humphrys replies: “And I could save you the trouble as I could volunteer that I’ve handed over already more than you f**king earn but I’m still left with more than anybody else and that seems to me to be entirely just – something like that would do it?”

Sopel says: “Don’t …”

Humphrys adds: “Oh dear God. She’s actually suggested that you should lose money – you know that don’t you? You’ve read the thing properly have you?”

Radio 4's John Humphrys criticised for gender pay gap blunder