Guy Ritchie insists marriage is "fine"

Guy Ritchie has issued his first public statement in response to speculation that his marriage to Madonna is in trouble.

The couple have been plagued by rumours of marital strife in recent weeks. In June, one report suggested that they were secretly planning to divorce later this year. This was followed by claims that Madonna had an affair with US baseball star Alex Rodriguez.

In a new interview with People, Ritchie has insisted: "My marriage is fine as far as I'm aware of."

The film director, who is currently in Southern California to promote his new movie RocknRolla, also revealed how his wife helps him to appreciate his home city of London in new ways.

He said: "I live vicariously through my wife, so I was once a spy and now I've become a tourist, and it's much more fun to live in London as a tourist than it is as a spy."