Guy Ritchie has spoken for the first time about his and Madonna's adoption of Malawian baby David Banda.

The film director said the two-year-old had become "part of the family" and put paid to rumours that the upheaval caused by bringing a child into their family had put a strain on their marriage.

Ritchie, 39, said today: "We haven't talked about the adoption for ages - he's part of us.

"It was only in the first month when the adoption was going through. Since then we have all been getting on with our lives and it hasn't been mentioned. That's par for the course. He's part of the family."

Madonna has two other children, Lourdes, 10, and her and Ritchie's son, Rocco, seven.

Both are said to have fully accepted David and Lourdes has even learned to speak to him in his native language, Chichewa.

The couple are set to appear before Malawi's high court next month for a review of their 18-month temporary adoption order of David.

They expect to learn that they have won the right to formally adopt him as Malawi's chief social welfare officer Simon Chisale has written a glowing report after spending three days with the family at their Marylebone home.

But while Ritchie, whose next film RocknRolla is due out next year, insisted he and Madonna, 49, were very happily married, he did admit to not particularly liking his wife's pop hits.

He added: "To be honest, I'm not really into pop music. That's just not my scene - I'm more into Irish folk songs.

"I'm sorry if everyone is shocked I'm not into her music."