Little Eyes Need To Avert

Another day, another outburst of mock indignation from the Daily Mail; this time over This Morning’s ‘Sexperts talk libido’ segment, which began with presenter Phillip Schofield telling young viewers, ‘you need to avert’. What came next, reports the paper, shocked even the most mature of audiences tuning into the ITV show, by demonstrating the latest in vibrator technology and sex positions for the over 60s. Schofield said: ‘We ought to make it clear that we are going to be demonstrating positions, showing sex aids and discussing intimate details during this item.’

Despite the warning, the segment still left viewers shocked at the early morning sex talk segment. Relationship expert Jo Hemmings showed the audience the new vibrators on the market for 'clitoral stimulation', including the ‘ears of the rabbit’, a ‘glow in the dark bullet vibrator’ and a remote controlled vibrator. She then went on to explain the sex position of the day, by using an elderly couple dressed in pyjamas to demonstrate on a bed. Hemmings said: "It’s called face to face and you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete for it. She’s safely tucked in between his legs and it’s a position that’s comfortable and easy, you don’t need to jump around the bed and it’s very intimate, very pleasurable and very warm."


The Mail insists the controversial segment, which aired during children’s half term, led viewers to take to Twitter to complain about the sexually explicit content. It then prints a selection of offended tweets: YourPollyanna wrote: ‘Was feeling much better but feel positively unwell again after seeing the over 60s demonstrating sex positions on ITV This Morning!’ James_harrod tweeted: ‘Making old people act our sex positions on telly just before lunchtime…oh ITV, for shame..’ Marktharparms posted: 'Oh how TV has changed. Phil Schofield and Holly Willoughby on @itvthismorning discussing vibrators and sex positions for the over-sixties! Others found the segment amusing though and jordanwalker89 tweeted: ‘Holly Willoughby doing sex education on this morning… I’ve had worse times!’

Holly and Phillip also discussed libido with a medical professional, Dr Jonty, who informed viewers that lack of libido can be linked to depression. And This Morning’s sex poll, which asked people whether they are in sync with their partner’s libido, revealed that 41 per cent of Britons are in sync, while 59 per cent aren’t.

It’s not the first time that the morning show has sparked outrage by demonstrating sex play and toys. Viewers branded a similar segment in March last year as ‘inappropriate’ when a young couple simulated sex positions on air. One viewer wrote on an internet message board: ‘Completely wrong time of day for this. No problems with it but is should be post-watershed.’ And in March this year a similar segment showed a couple perched on a bed with handcuffs, a feather boa and a blindfold in a demonstration of role play in the bedroom.