Chatting to Bob Geldof after last year’s Live 8 concert reportedly inspired Madonna to adopt a child from Malawi, after he told her about the level of poverty and HIV in the country.

According to the Sun, Madonna has told friends that she and husband Guy Ritchie would never have visited the country - and met baby David Banda - unless they had had that conversation and in return, she’s agreed to help support any new charity campaigns he organises and has given a large donation to his existing fundraising organisation.

A source close to Madonna told the newspaper: “She feels that she is forever in Sir Bob’s debt for having introduced her to the country where she eventually met her beloved son. She is extremely grateful to him for bringing David into her life and feels she owes him a lot.”

“She has now made a very generous donation to the Band Aid charity through her own Ray Of Light Foundation.”

“She also sent Bob a lovely personal thank-you letter to extend her gratitude to him. And she gave him a huge bundle of photos that she and Guy had taken while they were in Malawi. She thought Bob would appreciate them.”

But there may be trouble ahead for Madonna and Guy’s permanent adoption of son David: a Malawian judge has ruled that the interim adoption order they have been granted can be contested. A coalition of 67 human and children’s right groups in the country are arguing against the adoption on the grounds that intra-country adoptions are not allowed in Malawi and they claim the government “fast-tracked” the procedure because of Madonna’s wealth.

Regarding the ruling, Justin Dzonzi, a lawyer for the groups, said: “We are not saying that David should come back, but rather help change the law and assist the court to make a proper decision on whether to grant Madonna full adoption rights.”