THEY’VE dispensed sartorial wisdom to the stars and passed barbed judgment on many a fashion frock. But Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, television’s most caustic fashionistas, have a confession to make: they have their own stylist.

For five years Zoe Lem has been selecting outfits for the self-styled style queens and for the people who appear on their television show What Not To Wear.

Lem, a 30-year-old former magazine journalist, even joined the pair when they defected to ITV from the BBC with their show last November.

Whether it is preparing for red carpet events, television commercials or even Sir Elton John’s wedding, Lem said she has given crucial clothing advice.

Described last night by Woodall and Constantine as “one of the best stylists in the business”, she said: “My role varies quite a lot. If I’m doing a shoot for them and dressing them for say, Nescafé, it begins with a brief on what style they want.

“On other TV shows I do absolutely everything, but they obviously know a lot of what they want, which makes it easier.

“When it comes to the red carpet stuff I don’t always dress them from head to toe, like I might for another celebrity, because they are style women. But I do the publicity shots and commercial stuff because it requires a particular look.”

Woodall, a recovering alcoholic, and Constantine, who are unapologetic about their “poshness”, have successfully released a number of fashion guides on the back of their programme, which ran for five series on the BBC.

The books, with titles such as What Not To Wear: The Rules, and What You Wear Can Change Your Life, never advocate plastic surgery or even a diet.

They have come in for criticism before, however. Jo Brand once accused them of having a fetish for fat women, saying that every one of their “victims” is prodded and pinched more than plucked turkeys at Christmas.

Lem said that although they took her advice the pair were very clued-up about couture. “Trinny knows what she wants to wear quite a lot, so much of the time it’s sourcing things. She’ll say, ‘I really like this’, or ‘I found something really good’.

“Or it might be me out and about looking for various styles and I come across something. Then I would say, ‘I think you should wear this’. We work together,” she told The Mail on Sunday.

Woodall and Constantine said in a statement: “Zoe Lem is one of the very best stylists in the business. We have worked with her for more than a decade. We are proud to work with her and she is credited by us on every TV show and shoot we do.”

However, despite her handiwork, Lem — who is now conducting her own makeover seminars for businessmen and women — can still receive a typically vicious verbal lashing from the pair.

“They certainly make comment on my clothes. Or my rather large hips,” she said.

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