Sir Stuart Rose is set to talk pants with BBC’s inquisitor-in-chief Jeremy Paxman following an e-mail from the Newsnight presenter.

In it Paxman bemoaned the declining quality of underwear and socks sold by the UK’s largest fashion retailer, particularly the level of support afforded by the gussets that form an essential element of the retailer’s male foundation garments.

Rose will meet Paxman for lunch in the next fortnight and the journalist has instructions to bring his smalls. For his part, the M&S chief will bring a goody bag of assorted pants that Paxman will be allowed to test drive.

News of the undie spat surfaced following the leaking of the private e-mail.

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