Ulrika 'would like to spend her life with Sven' - stepfather

Ulrika Jonsson's stepfather has defended the celebrity's reported relationship with Sven-Goran Eriksson, saying "she deserves a little happiness".

Film executive Michael Brodie says Ulrika is very fond of Sven and would like to spend her life with him.

He thinks all she wants is to find a stable man to marry and have a quiet life with her children.

Brodie told the Daily Mirror: "She has done nothing wrong. They are both adults and she's single. She just happened to fall in love.

"I think she thinks that Sven is the kind of person that gives her the stability she is after, long-term. To the best of my knowledge she is very, very fond of him and certainly would like to spend her life with him."

Brodie went on to say he is surprised the press hadn't picked up on the relationship sooner.

He said: "It had been going on for some considerable time It's not a new romance. Ulrika met up with Sven for dinner on many occasions. She has been having a relationship with Sven since pre-Christmas.

"The media were very slow to get on to it - they weren't keeping it a particular secret."

He added: "I haven't spoken to Sven myself and I don't know what his intentions are or what he has said to her. She's a very strong girl and I hope she gets through this and that she finds happiness. I hope that after the World Cup all this will be resolved.

"I don't know how this will happen at this stage but I can tell you that she's not the sort of girl who is led by the nose for too long."