Dawn French has called on the acting industry to teach women how to respond to sexual advances.

The Vicar of Dibley star cited the allegations made against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein as she urged greater focus on “arming” young actresses against harassment.

She said that, while she cannot control the behaviour of harassers, she has a duty to help protect the victims.

French said: “We should be arming our young women. They should have a script as to what to do. So, if they’re asked to go to an audition and they are told ‘It won’t be in a public room, you’re going to Mr Weinstein’s bedroom’, then they say no.”

Her comments come in the lead-up to a special festive programme with Jennifer Saunders.