Judy Finnigan has apologised for her controversial comments concerning convicted rapist Ched Evans during yesterday’s episode of Loose Women.
The TV presenter and wife of Richard Madeley received a barrage of criticism via Twitter after she claimed Sheffield United’s Ched Evans’ rape crime was “not violent”.
Judy Finnigan's statement said: "I apologise unreservedly for any offence that I may have caused as a result of the wording I used”.
Ched Evans has completed a half of a five-year sentence after he was convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in 2011.
The topic was raised on the show after reports that Ched might return to his former club. On her debut appearance on the show, Finnigan said: “He has served his time, he's served two years. The rape - and I am not, please, by any means minimising any kind of rape - but the rape was not violent, he didn't cause any bodily harm to the person.
"It was unpleasant, in a hotel room I believe, and [the victim] had far too much to drink. That is reprehensible, but he has been convicted and he has served his time."
Elaborating on her comments, she explained: "I absolutely wasn't suggesting that rape was anything other than an horrendous crime.
"As I said on the programme, I was in no way attempting to minimise the terrible ordeal that any woman suffers as a result. "The point I was attempting to raise as part of the debate was what should happen to someone after they have committed a crime and served their time?"