After suggesting that he “doesn’t have a strong feeling either way” about gay marriage, Jeremy Irons has now caused controversy by suggesting the legalization of gay marriage could lead to a tax loophole betwixt father and son.

“Could a father not marry his son?" queries Irons, clearly not really thinking straight. When reminded that incest is illegal, and that marrying a direct relative is against the law, Irons said: “It's not incest between men", adding, “Incest is there to protect us from inbreeding, but men don't breed." A spokesman for Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, said: "Few people will agree with Jeremy Irons’ bizarre 'concerns' about equal marriage.” Referring to his role as Pope Alexander VI in 2011 television series The Borgias, he added: “Sadly his comments do seem to indicate he's taken his role as a Pope in The Borgias a little too seriously." Irons, in a similarly weird way, talked about gay marriage to The Huffington Post. He said he wished "everybody whose living with one other person the best of luck in the world because it's fantastic”.

He added: “Living with another animal, whether it be a husband or a dog, is great. It's lovely to have someone to love. I don't think sex matters at all. What it's called doesn't matter at all." We can’t really figure out what that means, let alone if we agree with it or not.

Jeremy IronsThere's a reason for Sinead Cusack pulling that face