Robert Kilroy-Silk decided to broach Martina Navratilova about her attraction to women.

‘Are you like me? Do you look at girls and fancy them?; He said.

Martina replied ‘Yeah, it depends if I’m in a relationship or not which I usually am, so I try to shut it out but if I see a beautiful woman I’m wow, she’s gorgeous’.

Robert continued. ‘The other thing is if it’s Simon (for example) – say he’s attracted to one of the girls, he can make a move, but how can you develop a relationship without causing offence?’

‘It sort of develops slowly but you figure it out pretty quickly.’ The sportswoman answered.

Robert then asked if there were still prejudices, ‘I think I was pretty absorbed in it because of who I am’ Martina replied, ‘But friends of mine have encountered it but its more sniggering or talking behind somebody’s back. The odd comment. ‘

‘Some girlfriends were in the closet so you had to pretend to parents what’s going on with the family.’ She continued, ‘You have to heterosexualise your apartment. You move into two bedrooms, move the photos, hide the sweetest photos. Whenever people do come out of the closet, they feel so liberated. They’re like why didn’t I do this sooner. My message to all the gays is please come out. Come out, suffer the consequences but the upside is so much greater that any downside.’