Maureen Lipman ditches her 'dirty, rotten rat' lover over his 'inappropriate behavour'

The actress confirmed that she and Scottish entrepreneur David Gordon, 61, had broken up, saying: "It's sad but true. We are no longer together."

Miss Lipman refused to give a reason for the break-up but friends said it was down to Mr Gordon's "inappropriate behaviour", and revealed details of his "complicated" personal life.

Although the tycoon separated from his wife Camille five years ago, the couple are still married.

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And while Miss Lipman insists that Mr Gordon "never gave me cause to be jealous", he is said to remain extremely close to his former long-term mistress Carol Meade.

Last week, Mr Gordon and Miss Meade, 54, were in London while he attended an event at the House of Commons.

Mr Gordon is managing director of Windsave, a company which makes miniature wind turbines that can be fitted to the outside of homes.

He spends weekdays at his office in London, though his main base is in Glasgow, where Miss Meade lives. His estranged wife and children – Anya, 29, and Henry, 24 – also live there.

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Miss Lipman, 61, met Mr Gordon in November 2006 when she was speaking at a Gala Awards ceremony for Scottish industry. They grew close and attended a number of public charity functions. At one point there were rumours of an engagement.

Now one of Mr Gordon's former lovers has branded him a 'rat' as she revealed how Miss Meade – who was Miss Scotland 1973 – had always been a significant part of his life.

Sapel Tagore, a 47-year-old fashion consultant, who works in Glasgow's Armani store, said Mr Gordon "should be exposed for the dirty, rotten rat he is".

Miss Tagore, of Helensburgh, Dumbartonshire, said: "I left him before Maureen came on the scene last November. But Carol has always been around. She has lived off David for the past 20 years."

One of Mr Gordon's colleagues said: 'David has looked after Carol extremely well over the time they've been together.

"All these years he's lived two lives and made sure they never clashed."

Miss Meade lives in a modest apartment in Glasgow's West End and drives a black BMW convertible with private number plates.

Mr Gordon's name was registered at her address until last year, despite the fact he owns a £750,000 mansion on the outskirts of the city.

Miss Lipman's husband, TV dramatist Jack Rosenthal, died in 2004 from bone-marrow cancer.

When she started seeing Mr Gordon she said: "I carry Jack with me every minute of the day and that will never change. But it's nice to come out into the world again."

<> A spokesman for Mr Gordon said: "He does not discuss his private life."