'This Morning': Barry Humphries praises Dermot O'Leary - instead of Phillip Schofield - for coming out

This Morning viewers were in stitches as comedian Barry Humphries appeared to mistake Dermot O’Leary for Phillip Schofield and applauded his “bravery” in coming out.

The Dame Edna star was on the ITV show to talk about his new show The Man Behind The Mask and took the opportunity to congratulate Schofield, who opened up about his sexuality on the programme last year.

Looking at O’Leary, he said: “I want to congratulate you by the way, seriously, on your courage.

Read more: Phillip Schofield reveals he saved his dad's life by performing CPR

“Last year when he came out and told us about his sexuality.”

O’Leary’s co-host Alison Hammond started to roar with laughter, but Humphries carried on.

“A lot of people respected you for that,” he told an amused looking O’Leary.

O'Leary – who hosts This Morning on Fridays with Hammond while Schofield and Holly Willoughby host the rest of the week – thanked the comic for his comments.

“I’ll pass that on to the gentleman who is here from Monday to Thursday,” he said, while Hammond struggled to compose herself.

Viewers thought the exchange was hilarious.

“Had me in absolute tears crying laughing couldn’t stop, then Alison’s laugh was making me worse,” said one person on Twitter. “I was #crying best medicine I’ve needed for a while.”

“My ribs were cracking, Dermot should have told him it wasn't him...” said another.

Read more: Josie Gibson shocked to be asked to step in for Holly Willoughby on This Morning

“Really don’t know if that was staged or not but it was absolutely hilarious,” one posted, while another said “Alison’s laugh made it 10x funnier.”

One fan said it was “television gold” and another tweeted: “Had me in STITCHES!! THANK YOU.”

Watch: Dermot O'Leary has heated debate with Beverley Turner