When Paddy met Sally: Fresh torture for Speaker Bercow as his wife moves in with gypsy Doherty for new reality show

By Sara Nathan


Welcome to Westminster: Mrs Bercow with Doherty


As if her toe-curling appearance on Celebrity Big Brother was not embarrassing enough for her husband, Sally Bercow is to go even further.

In a move that is sure to further annoy her husband, the wife of Commons Speaker John Bercow is to share a caravan with Irish traveller Paddy Doherty, who won CBB, for a Channel Five reality show.

The pair will start filming When Paddy Met Sally in north Wales next month, with Doherty's wife Rosemary moving out as 41-year-old Mrs Bercow moves in.

Mrs Bercow has previously admitted her husband was less than pleased with her appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, and her latest grab for the spotlight could bring further tension to a marriage that some say is already under strain.


It has not yet been decided whether Doherty, 52, will then move into the Bercows' grace-and-favour Westminster flat.

The former bare-knuckle fighter was invited on to Celebrity Big Brother after appearing on the Channel 4 show Big Fat Gypsy Weddings. He made it clear he thought the 6ft Mrs Bercow, who has already shown him around Westminster, would get on his nerves.

He said: 'I'm getting paid a few bob to live with her for a few weeks. I told the people when I signed up that I'm likely to murder her.

'She better know that I can't cook and clean. I can wash a cup but that's about it. If she tells me to start cooking and cleaning, I'm going to kick off. I'll teach her something about gipsy life, that's for sure. She'll know what travelling is all about when I've finished with her.'

Doherty said: 'We got on diamond in the Big Brother house so I've agreed to come and let her live with me for two weeks.

'I think me woman will move out for a week but not sure what's happening the other way round, whether I'll move in to the House Of Commons with her.

Moving in: Paddy and Sally Bercow appeared on This Morning together after Celebrity Big Brother

'I told the people when I signed up that I'm likely to murder her.'
Mrs Bercow, who infamously posed in nothing but a bed sheet with Big Ben and the House of Commons as a backdrop for ES magazine, told how her marriage had suffered as her husband had asked her not to go on Celebrity Big Brother last month.

She was the first contestant voted out of by the public, but she maintained that she stood by her appearance and was 'very proud' after raising £100,000 for AaA, a charity for children with autism of which she and Mr Bercow are parent patrons.

One of their three children, seven-year-old son Oliver, is autistic, and Mrs Bercow added: 'I'm very proud to be a parent patron of Ambitious about Autism and it has to be said that I was very proud to go into the Big Brother house to support Ambitious about Autism, and indeed that was my main motivation, although it was a blast as well.


Couple: Sally with her husband John (left) and with Paddy, who she will move in with for a reality TV show


'My husband John is also a parent patron of Ambitious about Autism and avery enthusiastic supporter, although he wasn't quite as enthusiastic about me going into the Big Brother house it must be said.'

She had given Doherty a guided tour of Westminster after he won Celebrity Big Brother and said: 'I'd love to do a show with Paddy about the traveller community, or 'Celebrity Wife Swap'.

'I don't think John would be up for that but it would be hilarious. I love reality television and I'd love to do something with Paddy.'

She added: 'He's such a wonderful man. He's invited me to come and stay with him, and I'm definitely going.

'We're actually very similar people. We're both very blunt and forthright. Our values are the same.'

As for Doherty, he stressed that his wife would not have to worry: 'Me woman doesn't need to be jealous, there's no need for anything like that.

'I'm going to have the best craic in the world. She won't be talking non-stop like she did in the Big Brother house.

'I'm not sure we're going to get on living together proper, like. She's very straight forward and blunt. I've told her a few times if she carries on like that with me, I'll kick off. I'm going to kill her. I know I will.'

A Channel 5 source last night confirmed Mrs Bercow would be moving in with Doherty for a new reality show to be screened in the new year.

The source said producers were still discussing where Doherty would stay during filming in London where he sampled Mrs Bercow's daily life.



source:dailymail