Jeremy Paxman has courted controversy with his aggressive grilling of the political elite. Now television’s leading interrogator has divided the nation on a matter of national importance: the quality of Marks & Spencer underwear.

With one in five men and one in three women wearing undies from the high-street retailer, an e-mail from the presenter of Newsnight to Sir Stuart Rose, the chief executive of M&S, was bound to spark a heated debate, not least because it referred to “widespread gusset anxiety”.

Paxman, it seems, is worried about falling standards. In a confrontational tone usually reserved for errant ministers, he said: “Like very large numbers of men in this country I have always bought my socks and pants at Marks & Sparks. I have noticed that something very troubling has happened. There’s no other way to put this. Their pants no longer provide adequate support.

“When I’ve discussed this with friends and acquaintances it has revealed widespread gusset anxiety.”

Although the electronic exchange was intended to be private, details of Paxman’s concerns leaked out, as did Sir Stuart’s response offering to discuss the matter. The two men will meet in the next few weeks when, according to Paxman, “we are going to discuss pants and elastic, among other things, and I will have an opportunity to ventilate this issue”.

In the meantime, the broadcaster’s comments have split the country, with some consumers determined to defend the M&S underwear department while others have raised concerns. Charlie Evans, a 27-year-old musician from West London, is a loyal customer. “I have to say that the gusset has not troubled me in all the time I have been a Marks & Spencer pants-wearer.

“What’s not to like with a pair of M&S undies? The material is quite soft, like an invisible second skin, and it keeps everything cupped in the right area. I will continue to buy my underwear at M&S.”

Another customer, a 36-year-old student from East London who did not wish to be named, said: “I have definitely noticed a downward trend in the pants department. M&S underwear just doesn’t offer the same support that it used to. There are major gaps in many of their products these days.”

Women have also joined the debate. Anna Day, a 31-year-old festival director from Strathmiglo, Fife, said: “I have been buying M&S undies for years and have countless pairs of the shop’s knickers and bras in my wardrobe. I have always been happy with the quality and the price but I have noticed recently that new knickers aren’t as comfortable as before.”

Maureen Quinn, 61, who has recently retired and lives in Manchester, has no intention of shopping elsewhere. “I have bought my underwear at Marks and Spencer for the past 20 years,” she said. “The knickers and bras are comfortable and reasonably priced and you can always get the kind you want.”

Paxman, 57, would not be drawn on his underwear preference but did have more to say about M&S merchandise. “The other thing is socks,” he said. “Even among those of us who clip our toenails very rigorously they appear to be wearing out much more quickly on the big toe.

“Also, they’re no longer ribbed around the top, which means they do not stay up in the way that they used to.

“These are matters of great concern to the men of Britain. I just felt it was time that somebody raised this with the only man who can sort it out, Stuart Rose.” Paxman added: “If I don’t get any satisfaction from the pants-bearing meeting, we will have to think again.”

M&S continues to outsell its lingerie rivals by a ratio of four to one. A spokeswoman for the company said that its underwear selection remained “second to none”.

Short history of pants

— The remnants of leather loincloths have been found with the remains of prehistoric man from 7,000 years ago

— The Ancient Greeks dressed very simply. The closest article of clothing worn by men in ancient Rome was called a subligaculum, which in modern terms means a pair of shorts or a loincloth

— Pull-on underpants were invented about the time of the 13th century. The loincloth was replaced by large, baggy drawers called “braies” By the Renaissance, braies were usually fitted with a closing flap in the front. This codpiece allowed men to urinate without having to remove their braies

— In Victorian times, men’s undergarments were in two pieces and made by hand

— Mass production began during the Industrial Revolution

— Boxers and briefs became popular in the 1930s as elastic waists replaced button, snap and tie closures. “Underpants” also entered the dictionary

— Jockey began making briefs in 1930. Jockey Y-vent briefs arrived in 1934

— Colour was introduced during the Second World War

— Spandex was created in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, Lycra Cotton was realised

— In the 1970s and 1980s the new designer underwear producers, including Calvin Klein, used sex as the main selling point for major advertising campaigns

— The thong and the G-string have been popular in South America since the 1980s and have since taken on a global appeal

— In the 1990s retailers started selling boxer briefs, which take the longer shape of boxers but maintain the tightness of briefs