Tatler sorry over ‘fun in bed’ piece on Downton Abbey actress Daisy Lewis

Tatler has apologised after ex-Downton Abbey star Daisy Lewis hit out at the society bible for writing that she was likely to be “fun…in bed”.

The magazine, billed as the oldest in the world, described the British actress in its Little Black Book of “the smartest, sexiest, singles on the planet”.

Accompanied by a picture of Lewis, the publication – best known for its coverage of society parties and balls – wrote: “As Daisy is quite small, you might be tricked into believing she’s quiet. LOL.

“She isn’t. This actress is loud. Which makes her fun at a party. And in bed. Probably.”

Lewis tweeted her astonishment after catching sight of the description, in the December issue of the magazine.

“I’m really shocked and upset by this. But thankfully I’m ‘loud’ enough to say it,” she wrote.

“Does anyone at Tatler read the news? #misogyny #loudwomen.”

The famous magazine, published by Conde Nast, said sorry on Twitter and announced it would be apologising in print.

“Tatler apologises unreservedly to Daisy Lewis. We will also be publishing a full apology in the next issue,” it wrote.

The profile of the actress, who played school teacher Sarah Bunting in Downton, was in the girls section of the Little Black Book, of “mesmerising beauties, brilliant brains”.

The boys section, featuring aristocracy and financiers alongside the likes of actors such as Jack O’Connell, shows “manliness at its most magnificent”.

Published in the December issue of the magazine, the Little Black Book is described as “the most selectable, delectable eligibles of the year”.

The piece on eligible singletons, “rounded up, oiled and brought to your tent”, was written as Hollywood and politics have been embroiled in sexual harassment scandals which have put the depiction of women under the spotlight.

The article sparked uproar on Twitter, with @Philippa_Perry‏ writing: “Christ Daisy that’s such sexist crap. Apologise and go on a course TatlerUK”

@thisiskays wrote: “Utterly appalled. Will never buy Tatler again. What hope do we have if magazines FOR WOMEN are treating women so poorly?”

Tatler, which was first published in 1709, previously raised eyebrows with a feature entitled “best society breasts”, listing former MP Louise Mensch, Princess Eugenie, Clare Balding and Dame Helen Mirren among others.

Mensch tweeted at the time: “Featuring a bunch of women in public life as ‘X Tits’ is for some misogynist rag like Vice, not for a woman’s mag, however childish/snobby.”