In 1998, Paul McCartney married the spirited model and campaigner Heather Mills. They married, to the usual fanfare laced with Sixties nostalgia, in 2002. Things proceeded in the ordinary way: a daughter, Beatrice Milly McCartney, entered the world on 28 October 2003. Unfortunately, the marriage was acrimonious and broke down: the couple separated in May 2006. A divorce battle ensued.

Heather Mills eventually opted to part company with her lawyers and elected instead to represent herself, inevitably leading to a highly unfair contest.

“It was a disaster for her,” Frances Hughes commented. “She should have been advised against it.”

Mills originally asked for £125mn, claiming that McCartney was worth £800mn (the judge would end up ruling that the Beatle was worth £400mn). In return, McCartney offered £15.8mn. In the end, she got £24.3mn.

“Of course I could have got a better deal for her,” said Frances. “Anyone could have got a better deal for her.”

Read Frances’ comments in Spear’s