Oprah Winfrey Brushes Off Ambassador Reports 10/24/08

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey has denied reports she has been courted by U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama to become the country's U.K. ambassador if he is elected into office next month (Nov08).

Winfrey made her endorsement of the Democrat last December (07) - the first time she has ever publicly backed a presidential candidate.

And according to Britain's The Times newspaper, Winfrey's name rests among the top contenders for the post in an Obama administration - marking the first time a TV personality would be appointed to the position. Former U.K. ambassador to the U.S. Peter Jay tells the publication: "You need someone who is close enough to the president to interpret events and get a message back to Washington. It would send a clear message about the new administration."

But a spokeswoman for Winfrey's Harpo Studios says: "Oprah hasn't been approached."