Garraway says she is happily married to her husband (R)

In a statement the star, who is married to psychotherapist Derek Draper, said she had befriended Anton Du Beke after working with him on the BBC One show.

"For that to be twisted into something else is sad, hurtful and totally untrue," she said.

A spokesperson for the Sunday Mirror declined to comment.

Garraway has now issued legal proceedings to the High Court for libel against the paper.

'Extremely upset'

"Contrary to these insinuations Derek and I are as faithful, happy and in love today as we have ever been," she said.

"I am extremely upset and hurt by the allegations," she added.

The breakfast TV host said she had made it clear to the newspaper before the story was published that there was "no truth" to the allegations.

"Given they were published in any event and continue to be published, I feel I have no option but to take libel proceedings against the newspaper to set the record straight," she said.

Garraway, who took part in the fifth series of the dance show competition, was the seventh celebrity to be ejected in November.