'I don't need to prove I'm not a dumb blonde': Holly Willoughby hits back at reality star Danni Levy during row over the dictionary definition of an 'Essex girl'

By Rebecca Davison for MailOnline

Published: 06:44 EST, 26 October 2016 | Updated: 07:01 EST, 26 October 2016

Holly Willoughby showed her feisty side on This Morning on Wednesday during a debate about the Oxford English Dictionary definition of 'Essex girl' after a campaign to change it attracted more than 3,000 signatures. 

Life On Marbs star Danni Levy said she didn't mind the fact that the term became recognised in the dictionary to describe 'unintelligent, promiscuous and materialistic' women. 

Danni asked Holly: 'Why should you have to prove that you're intelligent, just because you're blonde?'

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Not impressed: Holly Willoughby showed her feisty side on This Morning on Wednesday during a debate about the Oxford English Dictionary definition of 'Essex girl'

So awkward: Life On Marbs star Danni Levy told Holly women can prove they're not like the stereotype: 'Just like you have to prove you're not like a dumb blonde'

'I don't think I do,' Holly snapped back.  

Danni, who said people should just 'get over it', also said to Holly: 

'We don't say, "Oh look at that Essex girl, that dumb Essex girl. The term dumb blonde is in the dictionary but Holly, are you going to campaign against it?'

 'I don't think I do,' Holly snapped back as Danni sat on the famous couch

'Well hang on a minute...' Holly said laughing awkwardly.

Danni also said that she thought the use of the term helped to 'put Essex on the map.'

'I am so surprised that these ladies are campaigning to get it changed,' she said. 

'People like Amy Childs, Gemma Collins, they are pop culture icons. We don't look at them and say, "look at that Essex girl, that dumb Essex girl".'

'It's not derogatory and you can't change it.'

Holly retorted: 'I think you can.'

The cameras also panned to Ferne McCann, who also waded into the debate after confirming she had signed the petition to redefine the term.

'I used to be embarrassed to say I was from Essex,' she said. 

'I think it's awful and wrong. I am proud that I am an Essex girl and I think the definition should be changed.

Outspoken: Danni believes that people should 'have fun' and 'get over it'

'I think it's cool that 'Essex girl' is in the dictionary. You don't get 'Manchester girl' or 'Devon girl'. They've just got the wrong definition.' 

Ben Shepherd concurred that the term might not need to come out of the dictionary but should be redefined.

Oxford University Press, which publishes the OED, said it cannot make changes as a result of the petition, 'as this would go against our descriptive editorial policy and undermine the evidence-based approach that our dictionaries are built on'. 

What a looker! Holly shared this picture of her outfit of the day as she posed in her pink dress from The Fold

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