British film director Guy Ritchie has described married life with pop queen Madonna as "magnificent".

Ritchie - who married Madonna in Scotland on 22 December - spoke to the Mirror newspaper from Los Angeles.

He confirmed that married life to his superstar wife was indeed bliss, despite adding that fame was often "a pain".

"Marriage to Madonna is magnificient. We had a magnificent wedding.

"We're having a magnificient time and we couldn't be happier," said the 32-year-old film-maker.

Ritchie is the creative force behind gangster movies Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and last year's Snatch.

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow was at the ceremony

He married Madonna, his girlfriend of almost three years, in a private star-studded ceremony - reputedly costing �1.5m - in the secluded Skibo Castle in the Scottish Highlands.

However, despite the glamour of the event, and the couple's celebrity status - Ritchie stressed that he and his chart-topping wife were very down to earth.

"I'll still be taking the missus to the local pub for a drink," he said.

'Cobblers'

The marriage ceremony was shrouded in secrecy which added fuel to the media's already inflamed interest.

Ritchie warned the public against believing what was written about the event.

"Everything that was written was a load of cobblers," he added.

The couple are expected to spend a large part of their future married life living in London - where they have recently bought a home.

Skibo Castle played host to celebrity guests

Madonna, 42 - who stormed back into the charts last year with her new album Music - is said to enjoy the UK and be keen to send Lourdes, her daughter by a previous relationship, to an English public school.

Britain is also the place where Ritchie has his production company - and therefore most of his work.

His immediate plans involve directing a new Madonna video. He is also considering writing a children's film for his and Madonna's baby son Rocco.

But he scoffed at press rumours that she was going to star in his next film.

"Sure I'd like to work with the missus, but it'll be a bit difficult to stick her in my next film because it's an all-male story," he said.

However, his next big movie project looks like being a period blockbuster set during the Great Siege in Malta in 1565.

"It's a magnificent story with so many interesting elements: the Ottoman empire, Islam versus Christianity," Ritchie said.

When asked if his wife could expect more children with him, Ritchie concluded: "If she plays her cards right."