'I look an idiot in sheet picture,' says Speaker's wife

Sally Bercow, wife of House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, has said she looked a "complete idiot" appearing in a newspaper wearing nothing but a sheet.

Mrs Bercow, 41, attracted criticism for the photoshoot and for describing the "aphrodisiac" effect of life at the Palace of Westminster. She also said the view from Speaker's House was "incredibly sexy" and the couple had become unlikely sex symbols since her husband was elected Speaker.

But yesterday she told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I was a fool really to agree to be photographed in a sheet. I didn't really think through the implications. I didn't know I was going to be photographed in a sheet until I got there."

Mrs Bercow said the piece "was all meant to be a bit of harmless fun" as part of Valentine's Day coverage and she was surprised by the reaction.

Defending herself, she said it was a "storm in a bedsheet".

She said: "Obviously it has completely backfired on me and I look a complete idiot."

She added: "I actually think it's quite a tasteful photograph... but the trouble is, because I'm married to the Speaker, whatever I do is put in the media and used to get at him."

She denied the picture was not in keeping with what was expected of the Speaker's wife.