Judy Finnigan, 66, said the footballer "didn't cause any bodily harm: to a 19-year-old woman he raped in a hotel room when she was too drunk to give consent.

WHY I NEVER TOLD ANYONE ABOUT MY RAPE

Evans, 25, is expected to be released next week after he was jailed in 2012 - and the Loose Women star publicly called for him to be allowed to play for Sheffield United, despite an online petition calling for him to be blocked from professional football.

She said: "He's served his time.

"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."

She went on: "It was unpleasant, in a hotel room, I believe, and she was – she had far too much to drink. And you know, that is reprehensible, but he has been convicted and he has served his time.

"Now when he comes out, what are we supposed to do? Just actually refuse to let him do his job? Again, even though he has already been punished?"

Her comments sparked a backlash on Twitter, where people slammed the former This Morning presenter for victim blaming.

BBC FORCED TO DEFEND RAPE STORYLINE

One said furiously: "Can't believe that Judy has just said on Loose Women it wasn't a bad rape, ANY rape is bad & wrong! Disgusting."

Another added: "I'm appalled at Judy - ALL rape is a violent violation. Coming from a woman and mother what message is she sending? #LooseWomen shame on you!"

Rape Crisis spokesperson Katie Russell later added: "Whether intentionally or not, her words do imply that rape that involves extreme physical violence is more traumatic than rape that does not.

"Rape is a violent act in itself, all rape causes bodily harm and all rape is a lot more than 'unpleasant' regardless of the circumstances in which it takes place.

"Rape is a terrifying experience that can and does have a wide ranging of long-term and even lifelong impacts for those who survive it."

Judy has now released a statement apologising for the offence caused by her remarks.

READ: OUTCRY AFTER WEBSITE PUBLISHES '24 SIGNS SHE'S A SLUT'

She said: "I absolutely wasn't suggesting that rape was anything other than an horrendous crime and, 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?

"I apologise unreservedly for any offence that I may have caused as a result of the wording I used."

DEBATE: IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REALLY THE SAME IF A WOMAN IS THE PERPETRATOR?

A spokesperson for the ITV show told the Mirror: "Loose Women is a daily talk show centred around topical debate and frank discussion. Opinions are expressed and exchanged from a mix of viewpoints."