Sir Paul goes on-line for the biggest interview of his life

Sir Paul McCartney famously sang "Lend me an ear and I'll sing you a song". Later this month he intends to update the means of communication.

In what organisers believe may be the biggest question-and-answer session on the Internet, the recently-knighted former Beatle will face 1 million questions, put to him by fans using the electronic medium.

If Sir Paul - whose new album, Flaming Pie, was released yesterday, spent one minute answering each of the 1 million questions lodged so far, he would have to talk non-stop for one year and 11 months.

Instead, he will attempt to get through as many as possible in 90 minutes, in an event at the Bishopsgate Memorial Hall in the City of London on 17 May.

McCartney fans without Internet access will be able to watch him on the satellite television channel VH1, which will be screening the session live from 6pm GMT in Britain, Germany and the US.

Sir Paul said: "It's an awful lot to ask of anyone. I don't think we'll get through all the questions - but we'll give it a go."

His publicist, Geoff Baker, said it was amazing the response had been so big. "We are trying to get an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. It could be for the most questions asked on the Internet.

"I don't know if they have a category of the most interviewed man on the planet."

Mr Baker said it was impossible to guess how many questions there would be by the day of the event: "The sky's the limit."

Anyone wishing to put a question can send it to http://www.vh1.com or AOL Keyword VH1, the Flaming Pie site at http://flamingpie.com.

The new album features a photograph of Sir Paul (above), taken by his wife, Linda, who has been fighting cancer. It includes songs to her and tells of his happiness at how successful her recovery so far has been.

The album is Sir Paul's first since 1993. Linda and the Beatles' drummer, Ringo Starr, are featured. Louise Jury