TV presenter Richard Madeley bluntly probed ex-Page 3 girl Sam Fox, 56, live on GMB if she'd pose topless again - in his latest on-screen gaffe sparking a animated reaction.
The former glamour model, who famously featured in The Sun from the age 16, appeared live on Good Morning Britain and argued the tabloid's Page 3 was 'harmless fun.'
But despite discussing her modelling from four decades earlier, Madelely plunged in and probed her about whether she would pose topless again in a Page 3 come back, prompting her to blurt out: "At my age, Richard?"
Laughing, and composing herself after an animated reaction, she added: "Well, Joan Collins did Playboy (not topless) at 60, so I might do Playboy at 60. I've got no qualms with that."
The interview saw global star Sam discuss the 2015 campaign which led to the scrapping of the 45 year topless models appearing on Page 3, which was at the time argued to be outdated and sexist tradition.
But Sam's take on the shoots were that it was model's choice to appear in the tabloids explaining: '‘It was never risqué. It was the girl next door with a smile on her face.
''Every family read the paper.''
Although falling short of campaigning for it's return, saying she 'stays out of the politics' of it all, she added: "I think women should be proud of their bodies. At the moment there is a lot of pressure for women to look a certain way, what is great today is there is a lot of diversity. We don't have to be skinny, I think natural is the best way to be."
Sam compared looking at Page 3 to the beautiful women in The Tate Gallery, before admitting she herself would look at it as much for the hair and and clothes - if any- the models were wearing.
She added:"And there wasn't cameras in those days. I'm sure if there was there would be plenty of pictures in those galleries."
But once again opening up the debate about Page 3 sparked strong reaction from viewers and fans with some arguing such a move would be a 'backwards step'.
"Turned on GMB and there’s Sam Fox advocating bringing back Page 3 topless pics in The Sun. UK’s march back to the 70’s continues …’ one wrote.
Another said: "What a backwards step and narrow minded view by Sam Fox. Page 3 type content is so much more accessible these days for those that want to look at it. A return to mass published page 3 feel like a fist pump to the old boys club and misogyny.’'
A third added: ''Its vile that Sam Fox was only 16 when she debuted on Page 3 in 1983. How was that seen as okay? And no it shouldn’t return. There is no need for it at all,’ one more added.
Reacting to his gaffe, a fourth viewer tweeted: "Richard, you charmer!"
Sam, who went on to have a global pop career including her hit single Touch Me, said Page 3 was nothing but harmless fun while a Good Morning Britain poll found 43 per cent of those surveyed would be happy for it to return.
The Sun ceased the publication of topless models on Page 3 after Lucy-Anne Holmes campaign from 2012 to 2015, which collected more than 240,000 signatures on an online petition.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
