Pete Townshend to get divorced

Legendary guitarist Pete Townshend is to divorce his wife today (07.04.09).

The Who star's 40-year union with Karen Astley will come to an end after a family court issues a decree nisi to Karen this afternoon.

Once granted, the decree will become absolute in six weeks.

The couple - who have three grown up children - split in 1994 after Pete, 63, confessed to having an affair.

He is now in a long-term relationship with Rachel Fuller, 35, who he lives with in Richmond, South West London.

Pete recently completed a two-year world tour with The Who - which also features singer Roger Daltrey - accompanied by Rachel, who is also a musician and organises long-running collaborative jam series 'In The Attic'.

Once his divorce is complete Pete may have to fend off an unlikely admirer.

Daltrey previously confessed he is "in love" with the 'Won't Get Fooled Again' hitmaker.

The 65-year-old singer said: "Despite what people might say, we do actually like each other. I love the man. It doesn't matter what I say about him, or he says about me, something happens when we create music together."