The wolf whistle, once the mainstay of every bawdy comedy sketch, is barely heard these days. It seems, however, that one female star is encouraging a comeback.

Joanna Lumley was quoted this week as saying that wolf whistlers are harmless and women should not be such delicate flowers and regard it as a compliment.
However, there’s a vast difference between a small burst of tune to express “you look all right, darling” and the abuse and pursuit of someone whose feelings for you may or may not be reciprocated.

Some will say it’s all down to political correctness gone mad but I beg to differ.

Having gone through puberty at quite an early age and being gifted with slightly more front than the average 11-year-old, I’ve endured more than my fair share of harassment for the past 30 years.

I could have let it upset me, idiots shouting out of car windows or yelling at me in the street about my large appendages, but instead I reacted with a well-timed “How did they get there, well spotted, I’ve never noticed them before” and leave them dumbfounded and confused as I flounced off into the distance.

Yet I have had my moments when what was apparently supposed to be a ‘compliment’ was enough to reduce me to tears.

It’s your birthday, you’re not exactly football’s biggest fan, but England are playing and it's an important match so it's off to the pub.

You are trying to have a good time despite being bellowed at from all sides to be a good sport for the gents by revealing what lies beneath what you’re wearing.

Most women would find it somewhat wearying after the 100th time. You are spending your birthday in a dingy old boozer watching England losing, and you might feel a little emotional at the pack mentality of some men once they’ve got a couple of drinks down their necks.

That incident is nothing compared with the sort of abuse I hear being bawled every day at women and girls in the street. I was disgusted to hear some of the things called out to girls near a secondary school recently, not just by kids as young as my own, but also by adult males who should really know better.

So fellas keep your "compliments" to yourself - we've had enough.