Sandi Toksvig is calling for the National Theatre to be renamed after “failing” to fully represent Britain because it is “ignoring” female writers and directors.

In a scathing letter to Rufus Norris, the artistic director of the London theatre, Ms Toksvig complained that a recently unveiled programme of work featured plays only by men.

Ms Toksvig, founder of the Women’s Equality Party and who hosts television programmes including The Great British Bake Off, wrote that the theatre did not have the right to use ‘national’ in its title if it ignored half the population.

The Southbank theatre has unveiled six plays in its new programme of work, all written by men and only one involving a female director.