She was outraged by the 'sexism' of University Challenge presenter Jeremy Paxman when he made a passing remark about the knitted mascot her team had brought to the TV quiz.

But while Samantha Buzzard was upset by the supposed lewd innuendo in a comment that Mr Paxman insists was innocuous, she is perfectly happy to engage in extremely racy banter on social media.

The Reading University meteorology PhD student complained after Mr Paxman remarked that the knitted doll looked like him and, she claims, said 'please tell me' that she took it to bed with her.

Samantha Buzzard was upset by a supposed lewd innuendo in a comment that Mr Paxman insists was innocuous

Mr Paxman insists it was innocent banter directed to all four members of the Reading team.

Yet Ms Buzzard apparently relishes far racier exchanges on Twitter and has even posted an image of Ed Miliband altered to make him look like a male stripper – a picture which might have attracted outraged comments were it of a woman politician.

Many of the bawdy jokes concern double-entendres about Ms Buzzard's specialist subject.

Earlier this year, the science student wrote on Twitter in a discussion about icebergs: 'I've written 'penetration' far too many times for a Monday morning.' She joked to fellow PhD student James Mollard: 'Thanks for ruining my ability to talk about ice crevassing.'

Mr Mollard replied: 'To quote yourself, it's a slippery situation you're in.'

A second friend, Martin O'Leary, added to the sniggering innuendo, tweeting: 'Have you talked about how wet cracks penetrate much deeper than dry cracks?' Instead of expressing shock, Ms Buzzard joked: 'I hope you two are never in the same place at the same time.'

The Reading University meteorology PhD student complained after Mr Paxman (pictured) remarked that the knitted doll looked like him

During the 2015 Election, Ms Buzzard shared a photograph of then Labour leader Mr Miliband morphed on to a male model wearing only pants. She tweeted: 'How many of these can I hide around my house before my Tory/Ukip-loving housemates kick me out?'

The Reading University Student Union last week voted to boycott the BBC show after accusing Mr Paxman of misogyny and sexism.

Last night, sociologist Professor Frank Furedi criticised the 'language policing' in British universities and the constant assumptions of prejudice. He said: 'A lot of students are just looking to be outraged by virtually anything. It's what I call a 'performance of outrage', where you try to make a statement – and almost set yourself up to take the moral high ground.

Earlier this year, the science student wrote on Twitter in a discussion about icebergs: 'I've written 'penetration' far too many times for a Monday morning.'

Mr Mollard replied: 'To quote yourself, it's a slippery situation you're in.'

'I'm more concerned about the influence of this language policing which is being taken outside of the university. Joking is part of human interaction. If you have to censor yourself every time you joke, you prevent people from being spontaneous and normal. That's unhealthy.'

On Ms Buzzard's comments and tweets, Prof Furedi said students frequently had 'double standards'.

He added: 'You can make jokes about straight, white men – and that's very funny. But if you make fun of anyone else it is automatically morally offensive.'