Speaker's wife Sally Bercow said today that she was "seriously tempted" to appear on Celebrity Big Brother, amid anger that she is exploiting her position to earn money.
The 41-year-old - who famously posed wearing nothing but a sheet for ES Magazine - took to Twitter to say she was considering a spell in the house as a "riposte" to those claiming it would heap fresh embarrassment on Parliament.
The statuesque blonde spoke out after reports that she has agreed to join the likes of X Factor runners-up Jedward and former Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson when the show's first series on Channel 5 begins this month.
It sparked dismay from Tory MPs concerned that Mrs Bercow's antics are undermining the prestige of the Speaker's office.
Reading East MP Rob Wilson told the Daily Mail: "John Bercow said he wanted to restore respect and dignity to Parliament in his manifesto for Speaker. I am not sure how Sally Bercow going on one of the country's tackiest shows helps. Is it really appropriate for the Speaker's wife to use Parliament for her own financial gain?
"I would urge her to think very carefully about what she is doing."
Another Tory MP, who did not want to be named, added: "With Mrs Bercow under 24-hour scrutiny, it is going to be impossible for her not to embarrass her husband and herself."
But Labour-supporting Mrs Bercow, who also told the Standard that she found living under Big Ben "sexy", has hit back. The mother-of-three wrote on Twitter: "Now *seriously* tempted to go on Big Brother as riposte to those banging on about 'dignity of the Speaker's office'. I am *not* the Speaker. :)"
And she added: "Love the Daily Fail - who knew it was 1950 and men should rein in their women?"
Mrs Bercow then declared a self-imposed silence as she prepared for a holiday in Devon.
The latest Celebrity Big Brother series begins on Channel 5 on August 18, having moved from Channel 4. A programme source refused to confirm whether Mrs Bercow would appear.
