'Hi guys, name's Tony. Why don't y'all visit?'

Tony Blair is to become the face of British tourism in a promotional video to win back millions of American visitors. And such is the Prime Minister's appeal in the United States, he is fresh from recording a few lines of dialogue for the cult US cartoon show The Simpsons.

Downing Street insisted his promotional video would be good for British tourism, and swept aside criticism that the PM took a break from the war, the Northern Ireland peace process and domestic politics to make it.

With celebrities, including England football star David Beckham, Mr Blair was first approached by tourist authorities after the 11 September attacks. Then the war in Iraq further depressed an industry already struggling to recover from foot and mouth.

Tourism chiefs even suggested Mr Blair adopt an Uncle Sam-style pose for a US advertising and poster campaign. Details have not been finalised.

Daniel Hodges, director of tourism organisation Freedom to Fly, said: "Tony Blair is one of Britain's great national assets and is particularly highly regarded in the United States, among the markets facing a serious impact."