Tony Blair will never discuss speculation over his relationship with Rupert Murdoch’s ex-wife, Wendi Deng.

The former Prime Minister reacted angrily when asked about the issue in an interview with the Economist, banging his coffee cup “so loudly into its saucer that it spills and everyone in the room jumps”. Blair has always denied having an affair with Ms Deng and there is nothing to suggest that he did.

He denied any “impropriety” relating to Deng, from whom Murdoch filed divorce in November 2013 after 14 years of marriage. Blair - who is married to barrister Cherie Blair - said that the nature of the relationship is “not something I will ever talk about. I haven’t and I won’t”.

The magazine continued, “But did he find himself in a tangle over his friendship with Ms Deng? A large, dark pool of sweat has suddenly appeared under his armpit, spreading across an expensive blue shirt.”

Blair is godfather to one of the former couple’s daughters, but Murdoch has since ended his friendship with him. The News Corporation boss said earlier this year that he was “shocked” to read his diary extracts from his then wife, in which she wrote she had developed “warm feelings” for Blair, comparable to a “crush”.

It was rumoured that Blair had been staying for weekends with Deng at the Murdoch family ranch in Australia.

 “I was in Australia,” Murdoch said of hearing the rumours. “When I got back, I naturally asked the staff, and it opened up. That's the story. And then, you know, a week later I filed. As soon as I could find a lawyer.”

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