Close pals to Guy Ritchie have stepped forward to defend the 40-year-old director, revealing he wanted nothing more than "a regular husband and wife thing" but Madonna always made the most ordinary tasks "a great song and dance." It's believed Madonna and her team were looking to have her tour and the Filth and Wisdom screening out the way before announcing the divorce, as to not distract from their success. But sources say it was Guy who finally put his foot down and said the charade had to end now. 

"It's very sad but they've simply fallen out of love. Anything they had between them died a long time ago, but they've just been going through the motions, keeping up appearances. Madonna especially didn't want any publicity to divert attention from the start of her Sticky and Sweet tour. 

But the months have really dragged on and Guy has found the agony of pretending too much to bear. In the end he was the one who turned around to Madonna and said, 'Enough is enough - we have to end this charade'."

It's also believed that Madonna's 'team' have been secretly redecorating her NYC home, ready for her move away from Guy. There have been no reports on how the pair will deal with the custody of their three children, but Carlos Leon, is reportedly livid that this all come out around his daughter Lourdes12th birthday. Many also speculate the split may change the singers adoption rights to baby David.