Nicola Sturgeon brutally slapped down Alex Salmond today amid a storm over his 'degrading' joke about having sex with her and Theresa May.

The former First Minister's Edinburgh Festival gag also mentioned Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and First Lady Melania Trump.

He told the audience: 'I promised you today we'd either have Theresa May or Nicola Sturgeon, or Ruth Davidson or Melania Trump, but I couldn't make any of these wonderful women come...'

After an on-stage band hit a 'bud-dum' on the drums, he added '...to the show'.

Mr Salmond has since refused to apologise – and his spokesman claimed that Labour – led by Kezia Dugdale – were 'just miffed they didn't get a mention'.

But Miss Sturgeon swiped that her predecessor as First Minister was 'not as funny as he thinks he is'. While stressing that she did not believe he was sexist, she added that the gag was from the 'Benny Hill era'.

Alex Salmond has been accused of 'sexism' after telling a joke about having sex with Nicola Sturgeon, Theresa May, Melania Trump and Ruth Davidson

Nicola Sturgeon, pictured on a visit to GSK in Montrose today, swiped that her predecessor as First Minister was 'not as funny as he thinks he is'

He made the 'degrading' joke on the first day of his one-man show's two-week run at Edinburgh's Festival Fringe.

Ex-First Minister Alex Salmond's off-colour sex joke turns sour Alex Salmond: 'I promised you today we'd either have Theresa May or Nicola Sturgeon, or Ruth Davidson or Melania Trump, but I couldn't make any of these wonderful women come'. (Pause and drum 'sting'): 'to the show'. His 'Unleashed' set contains a number of scripted and unscripted jokes. A heckler yelled out: 'No more!'. Alex Salmond responded: 'Someone shouted that out yesterday, there's no originality'. Advertisement

But he came under fire from opponents and equality campaigners yesterday, with Labour MSP Monica Lennon branding the comments a 'horrendous example to young men'.

Talat Yaqoob, co-founder of the cross-party Women 50:50 group, said: 'I don't think it is an appropriate joke to be making.

'Aside from it not being particularly funny, it illustrates the sexism women experience despite being at a high level of leadership.

'Any such sexualisation by a former First Minister is particularly disappointing as he should be more aware of the impact of his words.'

Miss Sturgeon told BBC Scotland 'I think I would know if he was sexist, and emphatically he is not. He is not sexist.'

However, she added: 'Occasionally Alex is not as funny as he thinks he is, and perhaps this is an example of a joke which perhaps belongs more in the Benny Hill era than in the modern era.'

The joke was made during the first day of Alex Salmond... Unleashed at Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms on Sunday.

It came on the same day as First Minister Miss Sturgeon took to Twitter to criticise shoe shop Clarks for its 'Dolly Babe' range for girls and 'Leader' alternative for boys.

Miss Lennon, Scottish Labour's equalities spokesman, said: 'It would be wrong to laugh these comments off as a bit of banter –this is a former First Minister degrading female politicians.

'Alex Salmond should know comments like these are simply unacceptable and he should apologise.

'It would set a horrendous example to young men if he tries to hide behind these sexist comments as risqué humour.'

Mr Salmond has refused to apologise – and his spokesman claimed that Labour – led by Kezia Dugdale – were 'just miffed they didn't get a mention'.

The former Scottish First Minister made a joke about having sex with Nicola Sturgeon, pictured left today, and UK Prime Minister Theresa May, right, which has been strongly criticised

At yesterday's show Mr Salmond ditched the reference from his script, although he still referred to his promise that Miss Sturgeon, the Prime Minister, Miss Davidson and Mrs Trump would feature.

He said: 'Now obviously there is no way I could book any of these acts, but I know a women who could do it – please welcome the ever-versatile Janey Godley.'

Responding to the criticism, a spokesman for Mr Salmond said: 'Don't be absurd. They are green at the gills. Scottish Labour are just miffed they didn't get a mention.

'They should enter into the spirit of the Fringe. It's the Edinburgh Fringe we are at, not fringe politics with Labour.'

Miss Sturgeon has said it is her mission as First Minister to ensure that all girls believe they can reach the top – and has introduced proposals which will force public boards to act on gender equality.