Ruth Langsford risks backlash as she questions if Ollie Robinson's tweets were 'banter'

Ruth Langsford risked a huge backlash from Loose Women viewers on Tuesday's show as the panel discussed Ollie Robinson's historic tweets.

The 27-year-old has been axed from the England Test team in response to the ‘unacceptable’ racist and sexist tweets he sent as an 18-year-old.

Ruth was keen to discuss the news with her co-stars Gloria Hunniford, Coleen Nolan, and Janet Street-Porter.

Ruth commented: "He was 18 and 19 at the time of writing them and he has since apologised."

As Janet argued that his age at the time is no excuse, Ruth continued: "Are you saying at 18 he’s an adult?

"Eighteen is a teen. Could an argument be made that he was a hot headed teenager, a stupid teenager, said some stupid things, it might have been the kind of bantz he was having with his mates?"

Ruth continued: "He has said, 'I deeply regret my actions , I am ashamed of making such remarks'.

"So should that be the end of that, he’s apologised and let him move on with his very, very promising cricket career."

Ollie Robinson has been axed from the England Test team in response to the ‘unacceptable’ racist and sexist tweets he sent as an 18-year-old (PA)

Viewers tuning into the ITV show were not impressed with Ruth's suggestion that Ollie's comments were banter.

Taking to Twitter, one person asked: "Did Ruth just refer to racist and sexist comments as banter? #LooseWomen."

A second fumed: "Last week they were saying how bad it was that Marcus Rashford has to put up with racism on Social Media. This week because it’s a nice, cricket playing white boy doing it, it’s just banter and he shouldn’t be held responsible for his actions. #LooseWomen."

Janet Street-Porter argued that Ollie was an adult at the age of 18 when he published the tweets (ITV)

A third person added: "Racist comments are NOT banter FFS #loosewomen," while a fourth said: "since when was racism bants ruth and coleen!??? @ITV all your staff need racisim training because this is crazy #LooseWomen."

Another viewer posted: "Oh get a grip Ruth, racism and sexism is not “teenage bantz” #LooseWomen."

Robinson will not feature in the second Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston on Thursday after being suspended from all international cricket despite a promising on-field performance on his debut.

The 27-year-old has instead left the England bubble and returned to Sussex where he can play in the T20 Blast while an investigation into the circumstances around those tweets is conducted, with the possibility of further sanctions at the end of it.

Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV.