Madonna is to divorce her husband, film director Guy Ritchie, “imminently”, it's been reported.

A report in today's Sun newspaper claims the couple are to separate because they “can’t bear to live with the pretence any longer”.

Speculation about the condition of Madonna and Ritchie's relationship has been mounting over recent months.

In July, widespread reports in the media linked Madonna to the American baseball player Alex Rodriguez, who had recently split from his wife.

But the claims were denied by Madonna's publicist, who insisted that the singer's marriage to Ritchie did not "need saving".

Today's Sun newspaper alleges that the couple have exchanged “a string of shouting matches” over how long they devote to their own careers. Madonna is also said to be keen to adopt another child.

A highly-placed source told the newspaper that the couple can no longer “live together”.

“Despite huge attempts to patch things up they both knew deep down that divorce was on the cards. It wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’,” the source said.

“They tried hard over the last few months but their fighting was getting out of control.”

Madonna is currently performing on her 27-date Sticky & Sweet world tour.

(by Jason Gregory)