Which? says M&S are top drawers

Jeremy Paxman complained about M&S pants in an e-mail

BBC presenter Jeremy Paxman felt compelled to write about his concern over the quality of Marks and Spencer's underwear, citing "gusset anxiety".

But consumer champion Which? has named underwear from M&S as the top drawers in a brief test of four pants brands.

The £5 M&S Real Cool Cotton Trunks were higher rated than Asda, Tesco and Calvin Klein alternatives in tests including trials of shape and colour.

Which? said they kept their colour the best after 10 washes.

Which? briefing

Which? tested the M&S pants against cheaper George Trunks from Asda, at £1.75 a pair, and F&F from Tesco at £1.66.

Calvin Klein's £20-a-pair Body Trunks were also tested and were rated last of the four after doing badly in tests for pilling, or bobbling.

Which? said the M&S trunks did not shrink too badly, but Calvin Klein's shrank particularly in the leg. The gussets on Tesco and Asda brands shrank the most.

An M&S spokeswoman said: "We are very pleased with the findings. We do an awful lot of testing and always felt they measured up to scrutiny."

In January, it was reported that the Newsnight presenter wrote in an e-mail to M&S that its pants "no longer provide adequate support".

The presenter - who also hosts University Challenge - said he had not intended the matter to have been made public.