Ruby Wax has slammed Loose Women's presenters for their apparent 'obsession' with younger men.

The People reports the comedienne commenting "That show is abhorrent" at a conference for female equality last week.

Talking about the ITV1 daytime show's regular presenters such as Denise Welch, Carol McGiffin, Sherrie Hewson and Carol Voderman, who often talk about their love lives on the show, Wax added: "All the ­presenters do is go on about their toyboys like old cronies and I am like, 'You are grotesque.' I’m sorry, but it is."

Welch recently made the headlines when she announced the end of her 23-year marriage via the programme. The 53-year-old then went public with her 39-year-old boyfriend Lincoln Tawney.

The presenters' openness and frankness are reasons why the show is once again drawing strong viewing figures. The line-up had a shake-up last year in a bid to boost the show's ratings, following a significant drop which saw it lose nearly two thirds of its lunchtime audience.

Wax has made her views on the show quite clear, but the show's own presenters are also reportedly in locked in conflict.

According to The Mirror, Welch has told TV bosses that she never wants to appear on the show alongside fellow panelist Janet Street Porter.

The paper quotes an industry insider saying: "Janet considers herself to be a feminist intellectual while Denise is a salt-of-the-earth northern lass who really enjoys letting her hair down. They have got absolutely nothing in common and would rather have nothing to do with each other."

The fall out is said to be causing a ­scheduling headache for production staff, who have a pool of only nine women to fill the four-person panel.