Cherie Blair revealed a possible date for the next election during a talk about her new book at the Cheltenham Festival of Literature.

The Prime Minister's wife told an amused audience yesterday that charity nights she hosts at Downing street were "fully booked" until May 2005.

She then hesitated and realised what she had said. added "perhaps it's March".

Mrs Blair was promoting her new book The Goldfish Bowl on the first day of the festival.