“Many men’s salaries aren’t just for them, it’s for their wife and children, too.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, his comments were called out by many on social media and Tom has now insisted he’s by no means “an advocate” for “the gender pay gap”.
In a statement issued to HuffPost UK, he said: “I am completely mortified by the stories that have run today and didn’t mean to offend anyone by my comments which have been taken out of context from a conversation I had at a book launch.
“I in no way advocate the gender pay gap and I was explaining that I thought it had stemmed from that past, and shouldn’t be how things are now.
While most big stars' 'Casualty' appearances are buried a decade before their big break, there were just two short years between Daisy's 'Casualty' role and bursting onto the big screen as Rey in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' (credit:BBC)
Orlando Bloom(02 of14)
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Years before 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' and 'Lord Of The Rings' made Orlando one of the biggest stars on the planet, his CV was compiled of 'Midsomer Murders' and this stint on 'Casualty'. (credit:BBC)
Long before the world of superheroes came knocking, Tom played a skydiver in an episode of 'Casualty' in 2007. 'Casualty' being 'Casualty', the skydive didn't go well. (credit:BBC)
David Walliams(05 of14)
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The eye-wear might make him look like a 'Little Britain' character, but this is actually one of David's more series TV appearances, in an episode of 'Casualty'. (credit:BBC)
Sue Perkins(06 of14)
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Proving she's not just good for innuendos about sticky buns and soggy bottoms, here's Sue flexing her acting muscles as a doctor in 'Casualty' back in 2002. (credit:BBC)
Martin Freeman(07 of14)
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'The Hobbit' and 'Sherlock' have made a worldwide star out of Martin Freeman, but here he is having a rather grisly encounter on the BBC medical drama. (credit:BBC)
Minnie Driver(08 of14)
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She's an award-winning actress thanks to films like 'Good Will Hunting' and TV work like 'The Riches' and 'About A Boy'. But here she is showing off her range in 'Casualty'. (credit:BBC)
Danny Dyer(09 of14)
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We can't imagine how concerned we'd be if our paramedic turned out to be Danny Dyer, but that's another matter... (credit:BBC)
Sadie Frost(10 of14)
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'Casualty' was one of Sadie's earliest roles, appearing in the show back in the late 1980s. Unfortunately, there are no photos of her on set, so here she is leaning oh-so-casually against a glass box with perfume in it. (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Nicholas Hoult(11 of14)
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D'aww
Even before 'About A Boy', 'Casualty' was Nick's first ever acting role, back when he was just seven years old. (credit:BBC)
McFly(12 of14)
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Surprise! McFly made a cameo appearance in the show as themselves in 2005, surprising an ill fan with a bunch of roses at her hospital bed. (credit:BBC)
Beverley Callard(13 of14)
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When you're known, as so many of the UK's long-standing soap stars are, for just one role, it can be hard to get work elsewhere, but fortunately Beverley was able to shake Liz McDonald off for one episode of 'Casualty' in 2000. (credit:Phillip Massey via Getty Images)