Warne and Hurley say they're very similar in many ways

London, April 16 (ANI): Elizabeth Hurley and Shane Warne have hit back at those who suggest they are an unlikely couple.

The couple, who got engaged October last year, is planning to marry next year, with celebrations in England and Down Under.

In their first joint interview with Hello! magazine, the couple reveal that they have pet names for each other.

The 46-year-old actress calls the 42-year-old Australian cricket legend the Big Blond while his nickname for her is Luna.

"Elizabeth calls me a lot more than just the Big Blond - she has dozens of names for me, all of them too embarrassing to share," the Daily Mail quoted Warne as saying.

"I have a handful for her, too, but I usually call her Luna as there was a terrible paparazzi picture of her once looming in to kiss me, which reminded me of the massive mouth at the entrance of Luna Park, the Australian theme park," he stated.

The couple live together at Hurley's Gloucestershire home and the actress says she already regards herself as 'stepmum' to Warne's three children Brooke, 14, Jackson, 12, and Summer, ten.

Hurley said the families are so close that they call her M2 or 'Mummy Two'.

Despite having been brought up on opposite sides of the world, she insists that she and record-breaking former spin bowler Warne were made for each other.

"I am extremely happy when I'm with Shane. We are very similar in many ways. Despite differences in our backgrounds and careers, we both come from very secure, loving homes and to me that says a lot," she said.

Warne added: "I think we just 'get' each other and it feels like we have known one another for ever. We are from different worlds, but funnily enough they are very much the same, too."

Hurley was married to businessman Arun Nayar for four years before meeting the cricketer. She has one son, ten-year-old Damian, from a brief relationship with American tycoon Steve Bing. (ANI)