Macca: I never touched her

As you'd pretty much expect, Paul McCartney has had his people issue a firm denial of Heather Mills' leaked claims that he was violent towards her.

His solictor suggested that, much as he'd love to start throwing mud, he's going to wait and take it to court. Although there were a few sods chucked, just in case:

Sir Paul's statement, issued through his solicitors, Payne Hicks Beach, said he had "maintained his silence in not commenting on the media stories believing that it was best for all concerned, particularly his children, for there to be some dignity in what is a private matter".

"Our client is saddened by the breakdown of his marriage and requests that his family is allowed to conduct their personal affairs out of the media spotlight for the sake of everybody involved," it added.

Mills was a guest on daytime hospital camera-poke Coverage Of People Who Are Ill In City Hospital (god alone knows why), but luckily for her, she was virtually smothered by Nadia Sawahala into not even having to say anything. "And I agreed to come on here before this story" simpered Mills, in case anyone thought that City Hospital was in some way like Newsnight and the next feature might have been James Baker being grilled on US Iraqi policy while being tested for shingles.

music paul mccartney heather mills