A man who was pictured rolling around with Liz Hurley in racy New Year’s Eve photos has spoken after being identified.
The man who featured in a series of suggestive photos with Liz Hurley on New Year’s Eve has been unmasked as a horse-loving poet who has met the Queen.
Hurley, 56, was dressed up as Supergirl, and posted photographs of herself rolling around on the floor with the mystery man, who was dressed as Superman.
The Sun has now revealed the man in question was top hat and tails-loving Henry Birtles, 55, who has separated from his wife.
But Birtles, who recites poems at racecourses, told the paper he and Hurley were just old friends — along with her ex Shane Warne.
“It was a laugh, OK, it was past midnight,” he said.
“Everyone had had a bit too much to drink and we had a Superman versus Supergirl wrestle and someone took a picture. It was pretty lighthearted.”
The pair had their hands clasped together while Hurley’s nude fishnets were on show, along with an orthopaedic boot following a foot injury.
Birtles, who was pictured meeting the Queen alongside Joanna Lumley at Buckingham Palace back in 2013, went on: “I have been a friend of Liz’s for 30 years. Her best friend is my best friend.
“I was the best man at his wedding and we are just great, great old friends. And it is nothing more than that. Elizabeth has come horseracing with me, several times. I am a friend of Shane Warne.”
Birtles, known as The Racing Poet, added: “This is nothing. It has all just gone a bit pear-shaped.”
Hurley also featured in Birtles’ video for his England 2014 football World Cup poem That Time Again.
The Henry Birtles website states: “His poems are a regular feature on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day where he recites to the crowd.”
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission
Originally published as Mystery man in Liz Hurley’s racy New Year’s Eve photos identified
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