'No hair dye in the world can achieve the unearthly platinum shine' - Boris Johnson's wife insists he's a natural blonde

Boris Johnson has insisted his famous hair colour is all natural after reports to the contrary.

The blonde bombshell of British politics was asked in an interview in The Sunday Times Magazine if he dyed his hair to which the former mayor of London replied that he did.

However, Mr Johnson has now stressed that the grand reveal was nothing more than a joke.

Tim Shipman, the political editor of The Sunday Times who conducted the interview, tweeted that Mr Johnson had requested "an urgent point of clarification" on the issue, insisting he has "never" used hair dye.

Meanwhile, Marina Wheeler, Mr Johnson's wife, told Mr Shipman that she would "stake my life on it and that of my children" that the political heavyweight does not dye his hair.

Mr Johnson's sister, the journalist Rachel Johnson, also came to her brother's defence.

She wrote on Twitter that "no hair dye in the world can achieve the unearthly platinum shine" of his "barnet".

She also insisted that "all Johnsons are natural blondes" while labelling the hair dye "reveal" a "massive headline grabbing wind-up".

The former Mayor of London, who has up until now stayed tight-lipped about how he achieves his trademark look, admitted in the Sunday Times interview that he uses bleach on his hair.

Initially, when asked, he said his locks were "all natural", but after being pressed for an answer on whether he dyes his hair, he said "yes".

This has shocked the nation - and predictably, some people made it about the EU referendum:

Others wondered about the specifics - is he going grey, or is he a secret redhead? And how on Earth does he never have any noticeable roots?

Boris's father, Stanley Johnson, had previously assured doubters his son's hair was completely natural.

He said: “I can tell you that’s 100 per cent.

“I remember when he was born in New York, I nipped off to get a pizza and when I returned he was swaddled with all the other babies – but quite distinguishable by his shock of white hair.

“So I can reassure the nation, it’s quite genuine."

But celebrated hair stylist Heinz Schumi claimed the former Mayor of London's hair was dyed in 2015.

In an interview with the Mail he said: "I'm telling you, it's bleached,

"I went to see him give a speech, and when the spotlights shone on his hair, it was kind of orangey - it doesn't go light enough.

"Also, when hair is bleached, the follicles are broken so you manipulate it how you like - this is what Rod Stewart did, so I am absolutely certain he bleaches it."

Telegraph.co.uk