The One Show viewers were left squirming in their seats when co-hosts Matt Baker and Alex Jones were confronted about their pay by Anne Robinson. 

Anne, who appeared on the show on Wednesday to discuss her new documentary The Truth About Women, pointed at the duo in turn and said: 'I bet you don't know what he earns, and you don't know what she earns.' 

Anne's remark prompted rueful glances from an uncomfortable Matt and Alex, and tittering in the studio audience. 

When the list of the BBC's top earners was published last year, it revealed Matt was earning £50,000 more than his co-host. 

The pair appeared to try to gloss over the moment, with Matt replying to say 'it's in the newspapers', and Alex saying simply 'we do know, yeah'. 

The exchange was deemed 'horribly awkward' by viewers.  

As realisation dawned, Anne suggested they were trying to 'slide over' the issue.

Matt then acknowledged: 'It's in the newspapers,' as Alex confirmed: 'We do [know], yeah. We do, yeah.'

A surprised Anne said 'really?' before asking: 'And does she earn more than you? And do you earn more than her?'

'Well, I do three jobs.I do The One Show, Countryfile and sports, so it's different,' Matt reasoned.

Alex agreed adding: 'It's very different. But here, [we earn] the same.'   

One viewer tweeted: 'Wow how awks is this? Matt looks to literally kill Anne[sic].'

Another said: 'Poor old Matt Baker... never seen him look so awkward - he's not been given an easy ride this evening.'

'The One Show is horribly awkward tonight,' said a third. 

Anne's upcoming BBC documentary asks whether today's women have become 'too fragile' and the panel had been discussing the issue of the gender pay gap, prompting Anne's question. 

The camera then panned on to Alex who smirked at an uncomfortable Matt, while the audience could be heard chuckling in the background. 

The BBC released a list in July 2017 that revealed that - at the time - Alex received between £400,000 and £449,000 for her hosting duties, while former Blue Peter host Matt was receiving £450,000 to £499,000.

Alex said following the news: 'Matt and I have never discussed wages, but I assumed we got paid the same. I was quite shocked. I guess everybody else was.'  

However, since the release of the list Alex and Matt are now on the same salary for The One Show.

The One Show airs weekdays on BBC One at 7pm