A visibly shaken Heather Mills McCartney has spoken out during a TV chat that included surprising words about Paul and a campaign for truthful journalism.

Heather Mills McCartney, 39, gave an emotional interview on British television on Wednesday 31st October as she complained about the conduct of the Press. She was appearing on the ‘good morning’ programme, ‘GMTV’. The estranged wife of ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney spoke through tears about her vilification by journalists, especially in the popular newspapers or ‘tabloids’.

Her outburst has been almost universally criticised - by the very media she lambasted - but the campaigner in her made strong points about truthful reporting and fairness in the media. Her remarks - about wanting to 'protect Paul' - were unexpected.

Heather's PR adviser, Phil Hall – a former editor of a Sunday paper, the News of the World - has resigned as a result of her outburst, especially her call for a boycott of the tabloids. Mr. Hall has stated that his business depends on his good relationship with newspapers.’

Hounded

Ms Mills, following UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown onto the studio's red sofa, invoked Princess Diana and Kate McCann - the mother of missing child Madeleine. She compared herself to those two women who had experienced hounding by paparazzi.

The former model also spoke about death threats and confessed that during “18-months of abuse” she had contemplated suicide. She displayed files of press cuttings andpictures and talked of "4,400 abusive articles". Her idea that a newspaper apology should be as large as the offending article has found support. Also, few would disagree with her points about journalistic standards. Neverthess, her 'tirade' has, inevitably , provoked further negative comment against her.

Paul and Heather

The story of Mills and McCartney has attracted public interest since they declared their love in March 2000. Initially Ms Mills was applauded for her courage – she had a leg amputated after a road accident – and her campaigns – against landmines and in favour of vegetarianism, both causes which McCartney also supports. Heather and Paul held their wedding on 11 June 2002 at Castle Leslie in Ireland. Linda McCartney, Paul’s first wife, had died of breast cancer four years previously. Paul and Heather have one child, a girl, born on the 28 October 2003, whom they named Beatrice Milly, after Heather’s mother – Beatrice – and Paul’s Aunt Milly.

Divorce

On the 17th May 2006 it was announced that Sir Paul and Lady McCartney ‘with sadness’ were seeking a divorce.

It was not lost on those who recalled McCartney's song ‘When I’m sixty-four’ that the announcement came one month short of Paul's 64th birthday. The couple stated that they had found it "increasingly difficult" to maintain a normal relationship in the glare of the public eye.

In the past seven years they have, if anything, received a great deal more attention.There has been speculation that McCartney, whose personal fortune is estimated at £825 million pounds – around $1650 - will have to pay £20 - £70 million pounds – $40 - $140 million dollars - to Mills.

Allegations

A year ago – in mid-October 2006 – Heather reportedly alleged that the hugely popular Paul had used violence and abuse against her. There have been countless rumours concerning the amount of money McCartney would pay for his ex-wife’s silence.

Now Ms Mills seems to want to quell negative reports about herself. These have included allusions to the kind of modelling she used to do, the suggestion that she is a gold-digger and a supremely tasteless joke by chat-show host Jonathan Ross calling her such a ‘liar’ that: ‘We’ll find out she’s got two legs instead of one.’

Surprising

During the interview Ms Mills hinted about ‘evidence' that will be released should she be harmed in any way, adding that ‘the truth will come out.’

It isn’t clear what truth she means. Ms Mills certainly protested when asked if she had been offered money to keep quiet, declaring: "It's rubbish. I can sell my story right now.’

The italicized words in her next sentence were surprising in the circumstances: ‘I'm trying to protect Paul and our daughter.’