Madonna and Guy speculation grows

Speculation is growing about pop queen Madonna's future with her film director husband Guy Ritchie. According to a report, a statement about the couple after almost eight years of marriage is imminent. When asked about the tabloid report, Barbara Charone, Madonna's London-based publicist, replied: "No comment." Rumours have been circulating for several months that their relationship has come under increasing strain. During the summer, some reports claimed Madonna had liaised with Fiona Shackleton, a lawyer who acted for former Beatle Paul McCartney in his divorce. Madonna, 50, is currently on her Sticky and Sweet global tour and Ritchie, 40, is filming in France, although he is understood to have flown back to the UK to discuss the situation with his parents. Just weeks ago, the couple made a very public show of affection in what was seen as a move to end speculation surrounding their marriage. Madonna recently walked down the red carpet with Ritchie at the world premiere of his latest film RocknRolla in London's Leicester Square. Wearing a short black Stella McCartney dress with jewels down the front, the singer walked arm-in-arm with Ritchie and posed for photographs. From 1985-1989, Madonna was married to actor Sean Penn. In 1996 she had a daughter, Lourdes, by actor and fitness instructor Carlos Leon. Madonna and Ritchie have a son, Rocco, who was several months old on their wedding day in December 2000. In 2006, she applied to adopt David Banda, a boy from Malawi whose mother died shortly after his birth. The adoption was approved by a court in Malawi in May.

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ITN | October 15, 2008

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