The married woman at the center of a crude recording detailing how Donald Trump tried to seduce her has been revealed as former Access Hollywood host Nancy O'Dell.

Shocking audio was released by the Washington Post on Friday, which contained Trump bragging about his attempts to seduce a woman in September 2005.

'I moved on her and I failed. I’ll admit it. I did try and f*** her. She was married... I moved on her like a b***h, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married,' Trump said while he was on an Access Hollywood set with Billy Bush.

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Nancy O'Dell and Donald Trump are pictured together at a function in Beverly Hills in 2010

Actress Arianne Zucker is pictured linking arms with Donald Trump and Billy Bush

Entertainment Tonight co-host Nancy O'Dell (pictured) has been revealed as the woman at the center of a crude recording detailing how Donald Trump tried to seduce a married woman in 2005

Access Hollywood claims the Republican nominee was talking about Nancy O'Dell - a long-time entertainment journalist and current Entertainment Tonight co-host.

'There were seven other people on the bus with Mr. Trump and Billy Bush at the time,' Access Hollywood host Natalie Morales said.

'Upon arriving at our NBC lot our camera crew was let off the bus, so they could record Mr Trump getting off.'

'What you are about to hear is what Mr Trump said about former Access Hollywood anchor Nancy O'Dell to Billy Bush,' Morales said in reference to Trump's controversial comments.

Billy Bush, who is currently working on NBC's Today Show is the nephew of former president George H.W. Bush and cousin of former president George W. Bush.

'I moved on her and I failed. I’ll admit it. I did try and f*** her. She was married... I moved on her like a b***h, but I couldn’t get there,' Trump was recorded saying in 2005

Access Hollywood now claims the Republican nominee was talking about Nancy O'Dell (pictured in 2005) - an entertainment journalist and current Entertainment Tonight co-host

Introducing the audio of Trump, Access Hollywood host Natalie Morales said on Friday: 'What you are about to hear is what Mr Trump said about former Access Hollywood anchor Nancy O'Dell'

In the audio that emerged on Friday, Trump also discussed the host's appearance after detailing his unsuccessful effort to sleep with her.

'Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony t*ts and everything. She’s totally changed her look,' he said in the 2005 recording.

The presidential candidate, who has consistently come under fire for derogatory comments about women during his campaign, did not deny the exchange had taken place and put it down to 'locker room banter'.

Nancy O'Dell and husband Keith Zubulevich attend The 32nd Annual Carousel Of Hope Ball in October 2010

Donald Trump was caught in 2005 making his comments to Billy Bush on a hot mic at an NBC lot

Trump, who has consistently come under fire for derogatory comments about women during his campaign, dismissed it as 'locker room banter'

'This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course - not even close,' he said in a statement. 'I apologize if anyone was offended.'

O'Dell has been married twice, the first time to Richard O'Dell from 1995 to November 2004. She was married for a second time to Keith Zubchevich in June 2005.

It is unclear when Trump tried to seduce the television host.

Donald Trump has apologized for the words he said in 2005 that were released on Friday

Trump apologized for the words he said in 2005 in a video statement shortly after midnight on Saturday.

'I've never said I'm a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone I'm not. I've said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them,' the Republican nominee said in the statement.

'Anyone who knows me, knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.'

Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush were two of the prominent Republican figures to attack Donald Trump over the remarks on Friday

WHO ARE THE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE DENOUNCED DONALD TRUMP OVER HIS COMMENTS ON FRIDAY? Republican Speaker Paul Ryan Texas Senator Ted Cruz Ohio Senator Rob Portman Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell North Carolina Senator Richard Burr Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey Illinois Senator Mark Kirk Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman Ohio Governor John Kasich Utah Senator Mike Lee Arizona Senator John McCain Tennessee Senator Bob Corker New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers Arizona Senator Jeff Flake Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Florida Senator Marco Rubio Minnesota Congressman Erik Paulsen Illinois Congressman Robert Dold Advertisement

Before he had a chance to make his statement dozens of prominent Republicans had denounced the comments, with some even saying Trump should drop out.

Speaker Paul Ryan, Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney were some of the highest profile names to slam the nominee for the remarks.

Others, including Illinois Senator Mark Kirk and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, said Trump should get out of the running all together.

RNC chairman Reince Priebus also condemned Trump's 2005 comments in a statement on Friday night, saying in a statement: 'No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner. Ever.'

NBC insiders have called on the network to fire Billy Bush immediately after a recording of a conversation he had with Donald Trump in 2005 emerged

'Bush (pictured with Donald Trump in 2004) can't stay on a show that's primary viewing audience is women when he has now been caught in a conversation that is offensive to women everywhere,' the source said

'I'M ALL BILLY AND NOTHING ABOUT THE BUSH': AFTER YEARS OUT OF THE POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT, JUST WHO IS BILLY BUSH AND HOW DID HE END UP AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP'S POTENTIALLY ELECTION-ENDING CONTROVERSY? Billy Bush was thrust into the election campaign on Friday after a recording of him speaking to Donald Trump on the set of Days of Our Lives in 2005 emerged. Bush, the 44-year-old host of NBC's Today, was caught out laughing along as Trump bragged about trying to sleep with a married woman and making other shocking comments about women. He was born in New York City, before going on to attend the exclusive Colby College in Maine. He then joined the media ranks, starting out with local affiliates and radio stations before landing a gig with Access Hollywood in December 2001. After a little less than three years, he was promoted to co-anchor in June 2004. From there, his career in entertainment took off, with Bush being chosen to host pre-show broadcasts for the Academy Awards in 2004, 2005 and 2006. He also scored a sought-after gig covering the Olympics in 2004 for NBC, a role he revived for the Winter Games in 2006, as well as the Beijing Games in 2008 and Rio in 2016. Prior to Friday's scandal, he has steered clear of the political world - unlike other members of his famous family. In fact, Bush seemed to deliberately steer clear of the game that has been dominated by his dynastic family, describing himself in 2008 as 'so apolitical'. 'I'm all about the Billy and nothing about the Bush,' he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'I have respect for my uncle and my cousin, who have achieved great heights, but it's not for me. 'People don't even know how I vote.' He has interviewed Trump repeatedly throughout the years, and has been pictured with the reality television star. He also hosted the Miss Universe pageant four times - in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2009 - during the time Trump co-ran the competition. Bush married his wife Sydney Davis in 1999, and they have three children together. Advertisement

Despite his role in the controversial recording, Billy Bush is expected to keep his job with NBC.

A person close to the situation said Bush's job is safe despite the controversy.

'Billy has really done a great job on the third hour of Today since he joined. He's well liked by the team and not at all polarizing,' the source said.

However, another person close to the network called on Bush to resign - and said he should be sacked if he refuses to.

'He can't stay on a show that's primary viewing audience is women when he has now been caught in a conversation that is offensive to women everywhere,' the source said.

'And if he doesn't resign, NBC needs to act immediately and fire him. Even if this was 11 years ago it speaks to his character or lack of character.'

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a town hall in Sandown, New Hampshire