MADONNA and her film director husband Guy Ritchie are to be divorced in London tomorrow, according to the High Court list.

The case is listed for a "quickie" divorce under the names Ciccone M L v Ritchie G S and will be heard before a judge in the High Courts Family Division.

The couple announced they were splitting on October 15, ending months of speculation.

A short joint statement at the time read: "Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after seven-and-a-half years of marriage, their representatives confirmed today.

"They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time."

Film director Ritchie, 40, married Madonna seven years ago at a lavish ceremony in Scotland.

But rumours circulated in recent months that their relationship was increasingly under strain.

Just weeks before the divorce announcement, the couple made a very public show of affection in what was seen as a move to end speculation surrounding their marriage.

Madonna walked down the red carpet with Ritchie at the world premiere of his latest film in London's Leicester Square.

She made a surprise appearance at the event after the stars of Ritchie's film RocknRolla met fans and the press.

Wearing a short black Stella McCartney dress with jewels down the front, the singer walked arm-in-arm with Ritchie and posed for photographs.

Prior to the Leicester Square appearance, Ritchie stamped on suggestions that his marriage was over with a public show of support at his superstar wife's 50th birthday party.

According to a previous report in The Sun, Madonna wanted to wait until the end of her Sticky and Sweet global tour before announcing the split.

But the date has now been brought forward, with both parties wanting a divorce finalised before Christmas, it claimed.

An unnamed source told the newspaper the final straw came when the couple had a screaming row shortly before the singer started her US tour.