Gascoigne's marriage on the rocks

Paul Gascoigne admitted yesterday that his wife, Sheryl, had filed for divorce after only 17 months of a turbulent marriage which included bouts of drunkenness and violence. "I'm getting divorced," he said. "She served the papers on me. But I'm feeling fine."

The couple, who have a year-old son, Regan, married in 1996 but three months later Mrs Gascoigne, 32, who has two other children from a previous marriage, was photographed after being beaten by Gascoigne, 30, at Gleneagles Hotel.

It is believed that he later underwent counselling for his temper. They have been living separately - he in Glasgow, she in their Hertfordshire home - since Gascoigne's move to Glasgow Rangers, before their wedding.

Mrs Gascoigne, who has just launched herself in a new career as a presenter on Sky One, said in December that the relationship was over and that they would not be spending Christmas together.