Guy Ritchie’s father has hit back at rumours his sons’ marriage to Madonna is in trouble – insisting he was “shocked” by the reports.

Ritchie’s marriage to the superstar came under intense scrutiny earlier this month when the director failed to show up at New York’s Rock + Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, where his wife was honored.

This was the latest of several events the couple had failed to attend together, prompting scurrilous reports they’d split. But Ritchie’s dad, John, has become the pair’s latest defender, blaming their hectic schedules for their time apart.

He says, “They’re happy. I was shocked when I read they were supposed to have been having problems. They’ve been running around different places. That’s why they haven’t been seen together.” And John went on to dispel rumours that the Holiday hitmaker is planning on leaving her marital home in Britain and returning to her native U.S.

He adds, “She won’t be going out to America to live for good. They’ve got lovely places here (in Britain).”

At a screening of her new movie, Run Fat Boy Run, British beauty Thandie Newton was gushing about working with former Friend turned director David Schwimmer. But everyone really wanted to know what’s going down with Madonna and her director hubby Guy Ritchie.

Thandie recently worked with Guy on the flick Rock and Roller. And she said, “They’re having a good time, as far as I know! I went to their house in the country – it’s lovely. It’s all good! I just saw them the other day – they’re having a great time.”

She continued, “Oh, he’s lovely! He’s a lovely, lovely, lovely man! Awesome – he’s just like – sort of perfect!”

Meanwhile, Thandie knows a thing or two about making a marriage work. She’s been married to her writer husband, Ol Parker, for nearly a decade and the two have two kids together. “He’s essential! They adore him. We love each other a lot and love being together. The key thing is that my kids don’t go to bed until 10 every night. From 7 at night until 10 – that’s when it rocks out in our house! It’s terrible because they’re knackered.”

Madonna has infuriated the biological father of her adopted Malawian son David Banda by insisting the child would be dead if she hadn’t rescued him.

The Vogue hitmaker and her director husband Guy Ritchie caused outrage in the African country in 2006 after she brought two-year-old Banda back to Britain, amid claims the couple side-stepped the official adoption process.

And the singer is set for more controversy after saying in the upcoming issue of Interview magazine: “He (David) wouldn’t have lived if I hadn’t taken him. It’s not even a possibility.”

But the remark has reportedly left Yohane Banda, the toddler’s peasant farmer father, “stunned”, with a source close to the Malawian family telling U.K. newspaper The People: “Madonna should choose her words a bit more carefully. To say these things about David’s life before she adopted him is just not right.”

It is possible Madonna’s comment could be examined at next month’s hearing at a Malawian court, where an official decision over the adoption case will be made by a human rights panel.

WENN

Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie have bought a traditional London pub near their home in the British capital. The couple paid $5 million for the 18th Century The Punchbowl in Mayfair, buying it from friend Greg Foreman, the son of notorious former London gangster Freddie Foreman.

A source tells British newspaper People, “She (Madonna) absolutely adores the pub. They pop in regularly to get away from it all. Madonna loves the beer and Guy meets all his pals down there. They have been desperate to own this place for a long time and have been making offers on it for ages. Now it has finally happened.”

“It’s only around the corner from their West End home. She will be the most glamorous landlady alive.” Foreman Sr. confirmed the deal, which was finalized last week: “It’s great news. Madonna and Guy are a lovely couple and I’ve met them a few times at the pub. It’s a gorgeous place.”

WENN

Pop queen Madonna is set to renew her wedding vows with hubby Guy Ritchie. The couple are planning a summer ceremony to nip rumors that their seven-year marriage is on the rocks. They’ve bought each other eternity rings, but are trying to keep their plans under wraps.

Sources say, “Renewing their vows is the one way Guy and Madonna can show the world they are strong. They’ve worked hard to iron out their differences to get through the tough times. ”

Madonna is rumored to be wearing a white pantsuit for the occasion and celebrities invited to the event include Stella McCartney and Gwyneth Paltrow.

WENN

Guy Ritchie’s movie, Revolver, has flopped in the U.S. Despite being re-edited for the American market, the film has taken in under $75,000 in its first twelve days of release.

Celebrity columnist, Roger Friedman has said that Madonna spends that on mascara. He added that it is a terrible movie that had been “roundly panned” by reviewers.

Celebrating his 39th birthday at London’s fashionable Claridges restaurant, the singer chose to whip out from under the table a surprise present for her hubby of 7 years. Nothing says happy birthday like a “Purple Penetrator Strap On”!

Maybe it’s a joke? Maybe not…hmm, I guess we’ll never know!