Soprano singer Lesley Garrett has called for King's College Choir to admit girls, describing the all-boys institution as 'behind the times'.

Lesley, 63, argued on Good Morning Britain that boys and girls should have an 'equal opportunity' to participate in the country's choral tradition.

However, viewers branded her argument as 'ridiculous', with some suggesting the singer should 'stop moaning' and set up her own choir for girls.

Meanwhile, former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, who debated Lesley on the programme, argued it was 'much ado about nothing', adding: 'there are boys' choirs, there are girls' choirs, there are mixed choirs.'

Soprano singer Lesley Garrett called for King's College Choir to admit girls on Good Morning Britain, describing the all-boys institution as 'behind the times'

Speaking on GMB today, Lesley said: 'Pre-pubescent children's voices are indistinguishable from one another.

'It's a throwback to a bygone time to imagine boys voices are the only ones who can sing this music.

'We have a fantastic choral in this country which we have to encourage, and it has to embrace today's society, which is all about equality - it's all about boys and girls having equal opportunity.'

She continued: 'King's College Chapel choir is a very, very famous choir, it's an international brand. It's seen all over the world on Christmas Day.

The King's College Choir, which famously performs in King's College Chapel, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve every year, currently only contains male singers

Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe said she didn't see a problem with an all-boys' choir, considering there are also all-girls' choirs

'We're presenting a brand that's all-male, when that is unheard of.'

Lesley suggested that girls do not have the same opportunity to sing at such a high standard, adding that many all-boys' choirs have good schools attached to them, that offer choral scholarships to boys.

'To deny girls to sing at this standard, and to deny them the education that comes with it, is completely wrong in my opinion,' she said.

'They're behind the times. The irony is that King's College were ahead of their time in the 90s because they were the first to accept female undergraduates.'

However, Ann Widdecombe, 71, disagreed, commenting: 'Much ado about nothing. All up and down this country, there are boys choirs, there are girls choirs, there are mixed choirs.

Many viewers agreed with Ann, arguing it was 'going too far' to suggest all boys' choirs should admit girls as well

'That has always been so, and I don't see a problem with that. If girls have their own choirs, why shouldn't boys have their own choir?'

She added: 'I think we've won the battle - not only do we have a woman prime minister, we have a woman head of the judiciary, a woman head of the Met.'

'We have won the battle and that's where the problem is. We're looking for ever more causes that actually have become trivial

'There are lots of things that we can looking at that our serious, not boys' choirs at Christmas, spare me.'

Lesley, 63, argued on Good Morning Britain that boys and girls should have an 'equal opportunity' to participate in the country's choral tradition

Many viewers agreed with Ann, suggesting that people should concentrate 'real problems affecting young girls instead. '

One wrote: 'Are we saying there should no longer be soley 1 gender choirs, or groups, or bands?...This is just ridiculous & PC cone mad.'

Another added: 'How come everything has to be a gender issue? I'm all for equality and as a mother of a son I hope he has many opportunities and his female friends do too but leave the choir alone!'

However, some agreed with Lesley, with one viewer commenting: 'Kids voices have the same vocals. Why can't girls join?'

This Morning airs on ITV on weekdays from 10.30am.

However, GMB viewers suggested that people should focus on 'real problems affecting young girls instead'