Amid speculation her marriage is in trouble, Madonna has turned to her best friend Gwyneth Paltrow.

It was strictly a girls' night only as the two dined together at celebrity haunt Locanda Locatelli restaurant in Marylebone last night.

The pop star's husband Guy Ritchie was nowhere in sight.

The couple, who are said to be leading separate lives, have not been photographed together since 8 January while they were on a trip to India.

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Girls' night: Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow leaving London's Locanda Locatelli last night

And Gwyneth, whose own relationship with Coldplay front man Chris Martin is enduring rumours of discord, also left her husband behind for the night.

The stars, both American girls far from home, have long acted as each other's confidant.

And their friendship has intensified in recent times, with a source telling MailOnline last month that Gwyneth has even now began exploring Kabbalah, the branch of Jewish mysticism Madonna follows.

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Low-key exit: Both were escorted from the restaurant by the security guard

The night out came as Madonna's spokesperson shot down reports she is on the verge of splitting from Ritchie.

Ritchie's father John told Closer magazine: "They're not spending any time together. Madonna is busy in America with the children, and Guy wants to stay in the UK. They won't be spending Easter together either."

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On the rocks? Madonna's spokesperson has hit back at claims the pop star and husband Guy Ritchie, pictured here in New York in December, are living 'separate lives'

John added: "Guy is very busy over here in England, and didn't make it to her film premiere last week. He spends his weekends in the countryside and the rest of the time in London."

"Guy will be over here all year as he's working on a script. I don't know if there are serious problems in the marriage. I truly hope not."

However, Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's US representative, has hit back at the claims, saying: "I am delighted to confirm that Mr and Mrs Guy Ritchie remain happily married.

"Though they were in different countries recently - Madonna in the US doing promotion for her upcoming album Hard Candy and Guy finishing up post-production on his new film RocknRolla as well as completing a Nike commercial and working on several scripts in England - the family are joyfully back together at home in London.

"All is well and wonderful in the Ritchie household."

The couple have an adopted son David Banda, two, from Malawi and are parents to Lourdes, 11, and Rocco, seven.