A POPULAR talk show host has apologised after using the wrong pronouns when talking to a transgender comedian.
Lorraine Kelly said sorry after referring to Eddie Izzard as "he" rather than "she" during a Good Morning Britain interview. The TV star, who lives in Bexhill, was talking about a new 31 marathon challenge - following on from a similar feat five years ago.
During a television appearance last year, the 58-year-old requested people use female pronouns.
Lorraine apologised after using "he" and "his" when talking to the comedian and said sorry "if I get it wrong".
She said: "Can I apologise to you if I get it wrong because we're still just going along with it?"
Eddie replied: "There is a request, but it is never a demand or an insistence.
"I was asked and I said 'I would quite like to be known as she because I'm in girl mode'.
"Some people twist that and some people get het up about it.
"They say, 'are you serious about being trans because we just didn’t know for 35 years?' If people have a problem, just call me Eddie. It is no big deal for me.
"I am gender fluid, I do all my dramatic roles in boy mode."
The TV star appeared on the show wearing a Make Humanity Great Again cap over a blonde ponytail, to talk about her 31 marathon challenge.
Eddie plans to run 31 marathons in 31 days for charity on a treadmill to raise money for charity.
In 2016, Eddie ran 27 marathons in 27 days across South Africa as a tribute to Nelson Mandela, raising £2.6million for Sport Relief.
READ MORE >> Fans applaud Eddie Izzard after request for female pronouns
She said: "It’s motivation. If I am motivated, I can get going. All I prove is that we can all do more than we think we can do."
The comedian first revealed her gender fluidity during an episode of Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year.
The show sees artists compete to claim the title by painting portraits of famous faces.
At the time, she said: “This is the first programme I’ve asked if I can be ‘she’ and ‘her’ – the transition period.
“It feels great because people just assume that... well, they just know me from before. I’m gender fluid.
“I just want to be based in girl mode from now on.”
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