The Sun showbiz editor Gordon Smart has denied that his story breaking news of Madonn and Guy Richie’s divorce was a simple tip-off from one of Madonna’s PR people.
Some have suggested that the real author of last week’s front page scoop was Madonna’s UK publicist Barbara Charone.
But Smart told the Independent that it was down to a “great team effort” involving colleagues Virginia Wheeler and Emma Cox, as well as some diplomacy from senior executives.
Smart says:”It all came together, a bit of good-cop bad-cop, some persistence and some patience.”
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog