Ferrari, seemingly uncomfortable at the interruption, replied: “There’s inappropriate behaviour which is ‘go and buy sex toys’ and then there is trying to sidle up or touching hands or trying to move it to a sexual position. There are two different trains here.”

Schofield also expressed doubts about the #MeToo campaign, asking why victims would name and shame people on Twitter rather than just go to the police.

“The thing is, for all the good that #MeToo has done, it has been widely used to name, with no proof, with no concrete evidence… and then someone’s name is attached to the #MeToo,” he said.

Willoughby fired back: “Even with [Harvey] Weinstein, some did go to the police thirty years ago and nothing was done. It does take extra measures. Doesn’t it just go to show the extent of the relief on women? The outpouring, because suddenly they are being heard, and they are being listened to, that shows how deep and dark it’s got.”

Her co-host, though, was unmoved by Willoughby’s argument. Seemingly conflating the ideas of ‘flirting’ and ‘unwanted sexual advances’, he suggested that many women wouldn’t be in happy relationships or marriages if their male partners hadn’t persisted in pursuing them.

“Does it rub all of that out?” he asked. “Any guy would be terrified that what he is doing is inappropriate.”

Willoughby refused to let Schofield have the last word, replying firmly: “We can’t liken it to that, because it will stop women from coming forward again.”

Viewers at home have since heaped criticism on Schofield and Ferarri over their comments – and praised Willoughby for shutting down the “tired” argument.

Holly Willoughby praised for shutting down “tired” sexual assault commentary