madonna and guy ritchieGuy Ritchie reportedly agreed to take the blame in his divorce from wife Madonna because she collected a dossier of evidence to use against him if he didn’t.

Madonna and Guy were granted the first stage in their “quickie divorce” this week just a month after they officially announced their separation. The pair would have to have been officially separated for two years before being able to apply for a “no fault” divorce in the UK but citing “unreasonable behaviour” on Guy’s behalf, the case qualified “for pronouncement of decree or order under the special procedure rule”, meaning that their divorce will be officially finalised in just six weeks.

A source close to Team Madonna told the News of the World that Guy agreed to take the blame because the star “had him over a barrel”: “She was determined to come out of this smelling of roses - and that she would not be the next Heather Mills by dragging it out in a very public way.

“Madonna was angry because she felt Guy had welched on the deal that they would keep the happily married image going until the end of her current tour. So she became determined to paint him as a drunken, lewd sexist.

“She got staff to keep a record of every time he was out late or made an off-colour comment. It was bizarre as he’s not a heavy drinker or abusive. He doesn’t drink any more than the next man. But she was trying to show he’d be a bad influence on the kids.”

Guy is also said to have relinquished his claim to a chunk of Madonna’s assets in favour of shared custody of their children. He is said to have been given a £2million lump sum payment and ownership of their £10million Wiltshire estate, but could have challenged for up to £70million of Madonna’s rumoured £300million fortune.