Clinton slept on couch after Lewinsky affair

Bill Clinton slept on the couch for at least two months after he confessed to his affair with Monica Lewinsky, the former US president reveals in his autobiography.

He said his wife Hilary looked as if he had punched her in the gut when he finally owned up to having a sexual relationship with the White House intern whom he referred to when caught out as “that woman”.

In My Life, the former president said the affair revealed “the darkest part of my inner life”.

He said the sexual relationship was immoral and foolish.

Clinton said that after he confessed to his wife and daughter Chelsea, he and his wife had counselling one day a week for about a year.

He said he came to learn that his upbringing had made certain things more difficult for him than for other people, and that he was particularly prone to self-destructive behaviour when he was tired, angry or feeling alone.

Clinton’s book comes out in the United States on Tuesday.