The 59-year-old wife of former Conservative minister Neil Hamilton did it to promote an online deed poll provider. The former Mrs Hamilton said the name change was made in a light-hearted spirit but was official.

She was filmed carrying out the procedure on The Legal Deed Service website, and the footage has been posted on video-sharing website YouTube.She published a Bumper Book of British Battleaxes in 1997, and said the new name was an obvious choice.

Mrs Hamilton said: "I haven't got around to changing my bank account, passport or chequebook, but who knows? I have to admit I didn't ask Neil before I did it." Mr Hamilton said of the name change: "It's quite a surprise to find I'm married to somebody else."

The couple became familiar faces on TV after Mr Hamilton, who was implicated in the Commons cash-for-questions scandal in the 1990s, lost his seat to anti-sleaze candidate Martin Bell in 1997.

It's amazing that some people can make themselves even more unpopular than you ever thought...

The quiet dignity of the Conservative ladies...

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