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Radio presenter Colin Murray shocked fans last night with an apparent sexist remark about Olympics queen Jessica Ennis-Hill.

The BBC star, warming up the capacity crowd at the Olympic Stadium for the Anniversary Games, said the ultimate athlete would have “the stamina of Mo, the speed of Bolt, the leap of Rutherford and the bottom of Jess Ennis”.

Fans took to Twitter to register their disgust at former Radio 1 DJ Murray, 36. Julie Haigh tweeted: “Boys get their skills mentioned, but @J_Ennis has her bum mentioned. In the 50s are we?”

Olympic heptathlon gold winner Ennis-Hill, 27, is due to compete in the long jump and 100m hurdles today as she recovers from an ankle injury ahead of next month’s World Championships in Moscow.

The Northern Irish broadcaster later tried to defuse the row, tweeting: “Hey guys, I said she was the ‘greatest all-round athlete in the world’.”

But the negative reaction to the presenter's comments continued.

Another Twitter user said: "Ace night at the athletics. Shame @colinmurray had to reduce Jess Ennis' achievements solely to the appearance of her bum. #everydaysexism"

Natalie Vincent tweeted: "@ColinMurray You serious? Colin, did the Inverdale debacle not teach you ANYTHING?"

Jo Stroud added: "There is no way that @ColinMurray should get away with what he came out with re: @J_Ennis earlier. For shame."

Ian Jackson said: "Sexism in sport alive & well. Apparently Jess Ennis just has good bum. Shame on Colin Murray."

Jon Slade tweeted: "Colin Murray just said: 'the stamina of Mo, the speed of Bolt, the bottom of Jess Ennis'. Inverdale & him must be buddies. #everydaysexism"

It is not the first time Murray has courted controversy.

He quit BBC Radio 5 Live’s Fighting Talk show this month after it included a section on how openly gay racing presenter Clare Balding, 42, could be “turned around”.

He also follows former BBC colleague John Inverdale, 55, in making offensive remarks on air.

Inverdale said Wimbledon women’s winner Marion Bartoli “will never be a looker”. A BBC spokesman said of Inverdale's comments: “We accept it was insensitive and we apologise.”