and Anita Dobson finally walked down the aisle in 2000 after being in a relationship since 1986, and surprisingly their wedding was prompted by his infidelity. In 1999 the news broke that the legendary guitarist had been having a dalliance with his PA of over 15-years Julie Glover, who was herself married to renowned music manager John Glover. The Sunday Mirror reported at the time Anita, now 75, had telephoned Julie's husband to tell him about his wife's liaisons with Brian. She then issued an ultimatum to Brian telling him: "Sack that woman or we're finished forever."

While Brian, 77, complied, letting Julie go with a "generous" severance package, initially it looked like the couple would not make it through. Brian flew out to Canada where Anita was appearing in a show in order to win her back. Reflecting on the dark period in their relationship years later Anita said: "Nobody's perfect. We've all done things that we're not proud of but, unfortunately, that became public. I didn't think I'd ever come back from it. I thought: 'That's it. Over.'

"But when I walked away, I thought, 'You obviously love this man, and he loves you. You've spent your life running away from commitment. Maybe it's time you stood and figured out why'.

"I just thought, 'We've gone through all the c**p. It's time we had the good stuff.' So I said, 'Brian, I think I'm ready to get married.'

"I wouldn't be married today if it wasn't for that affair. I needed to grow up and deal with the fact I was also responsible for our relationship," Anita, who was engaged four times prior to meeting Brian, told the Daily Mail.

The couple tied the knot in a small registry office ceremony in Richmond upon Thames in November 2000 and honeymooned in Venice.

For his part Brian has been very vocal about his intense feelings for Anita saying his "world goes black" when she is annoyed with him.

"There is a supernatural force at work, as far as I'm concerned, with Anita. Ever since I first set eyes on her, she's been an essential part of my life.

"When she gets p****f off with me, the world goes black, it really does," he told The Daily Mail.

"Any time that I've tried to turn my back on her in the smallest possible way, my guts fall out."