Beyonce’s mother has spoken out to deny rumours that her daughter has unexpectedly fallen pregnant by husband Jay-Z.

In a clip released ahead of today's Ellen DeGeneres' chat show, Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles, says: “No, no. It's not true. Not right now.

She jokes: “I'm here to clear the rumours up. The truth is that it's me, not Beyonce, that's pregnant. It's me.” She added: “I'm kidding, no, no I'm 56."

Earlier a spokesman for the former Destiny's Child singer, 29, had refused to comment on the reports, but did not issue a denial.

Back in August, in an interview with the 'Mail On Sunday's You' magazine, Beyonce said: “There are no dates, no times – it will happen when I am ready.”