Macca: 'Divorce is hell'

When Sir Paul was asked whether he had any regrets about the fall-out from the break-down of the four-year marriage, he momentarily dropped his guard and spoke candidly quoting Winston Churchill.

The former Beatle said: 'Going through a divorce is a very painful thing. As Winston Churchill once said, "If you're going through Hell, keep going".

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The relevance of the quote - from the most prominent war strategist of modern times - will not have been lost on McCartney, and observers of his increasingly acrimonious divorce battle.

Aside from showing just how debilitating and entrenched the battle has become for him, the words also give an indication that McCartney is keen to press on towards a swift resolution.

The Mail has learned that Miss Mills is also pushing for an early result away from a messy and public High Court confrontation.

In the interview with the Radio Times, McCartney speaks of the importance of remaining dignified - and silent - in such disputes.

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He said: 'The only solution is to remain dignified. If I don't keep a silence about it, I lose this idea of being dignified. But I've a wonderful baby. 'She's a great joy to me, as are my elder children, so I'm a lucky man.'

Sources have told the Mail that though Miss Mills is also ostensibly shying away from speaking publicly about the case - even arriving at court last week hiding under a blanket - she is finding ways to nudge Sir Paul towards that early out of court settlement.

Heather has for instance spent much of the time since last Thursday's Financial Dispute Resolution meeting building a robust case to convince his team why he should settle long before a public hearing next year.

A source told the Mail: 'Heather felt so encouraged about the Financial Dispute Resolution hearing last week.

'She thought they would settle very quickly after. But Paul's team have not been back in touch. She now feels like he has led her up the garden path.

'Heather has been putting the word out that it is not in Paul's best interest to go to court by reminding him of the cards she is holding.

'She has started been making worrying noises about the custody of Beatrice, suggesting she might perhaps take her to America for long periods of time.

'She has been saying that if they go to court, the judge will not pay any interest to what she calls 'the catalogue lies' that have been said about her in the press.

'She is saying that if this goes to court, she will get awarded more money, that it will be worst for Beatrice to have her parents so publicly warring.

'His legal team has been reminded that Heather could argue that she put him back on track emotionally and with his career after Linda died. And perhaps then if she goes to court she should then fight for some of his future earnings.

'Heather has also been talking again about her personal security and that of Beatrice. She is saying the longer this all drags on and the more public it gets, the more worried she is that she will become public enemy No1. And greater security for them all is something Paul will have to pay for.

'She has also been speaking of there now being unprecedented offers coming in from the US to go on shows like Oprah, Jay Leno and Letterman. Paul is getting all this nudging encouragement to do the deal right away.

'There has been all this encouragement - and the longer is takes for Paul's team to come back to them with a settlement, the more frenzied it is becoming.

'Her side have also been saying that if Paul wants public war, he can have it. But as Heather has pointed out, a lot could come out in court. And Paul should remember that after what has been said about her over the years - truth or lie - she does not have much reputation left to defend. But she wants him to know that if she is forced into a corner, she could very publicly destroy his reputation.'

A source close to Heather said last night: 'As of yesterday, the latest line is that if Paul doesn't settle in the very near future and if it goes to court, Heather will stretch the court case long into next year. Let's not forget, Heather is still suffering horribly after having follow-up operations on her leg. Such problems could stretch out a divorce hearing.

'And if this all drags out, Paul must also be worrying about what potentially damaging allegations might leak out about the marriage break-up in the future. It could all get very messy again very quickly.'

Spokesman for Mills and McCartney refused to comment on the progress of the divorce last night.

Read the full story in Radio Times, out today