It collapsed in the wake of their controversial adoption of Malawi tot David Banda.

Pop queen Madge and film director Guy are having counselling in a bid to save their six-year marriage.

But close pals say both have admitted that barring miracles they’ll “call it a day.”

“They’re in total meltdown and row non-stop whenever they see each other,” said one good friend. According to a number of well-placed sources the couple:

- SLEEP in separate beds and lead separate lives.

- FOUGHT bitterly over adopting baby David.

- ARGUE fiercely over Madonna’s controlling behavior.

- QUARREL over her obsession with the Kabbalah Jewish sect.

And the pair will soon be physically far apart — for Madonna is flying to the US to record a new album while Guy insists on staying her, ostensibly “for work”.

Friends say the marriage has been in free fall for a year. But the crunch came last month when Guy REFUSED to accompany his wife on her latest baby-hunting trip to Malawi.

A trusted source at the heart of the Madge camp revealed: “They’ve been at loggerheads for a while and now hardly do anything together. They’re even spending more and more nights in separate bedrooms.

“But they’re a united front when their children are involved. This was clearly visible when they were pictured this week out in the park as a family. But behind closed doors they barely speak.”

On a recent boozy night out with his mates, Guy — who has a six-year-old son Rocco with Madonna and is stepdad to her daughter Lourdes, 10 — poured out his heart about the problems.

He confessed they’d hit rock bottom and were at each other’s throats over Madonna’s plans for adoption No2.

Guy, 38, told friends he is horrified that the Material Girl is forging ahead despite controversy still surrounding the first. Throughout that evening she bombarded him with calls demanding to know just what he was up to.

A source told us: “Madonna was devastated that Guy wouldn’t join her in Malawi. She phoned him in tears but he wouldn’t change his mind.

“That’s when they realised their relationship was all but over. If it wasn’t for his son Rocco, I think Guy would have walked a long time ago.

“The adoption row is a huge issue. Neither is prepared to back down. Guy refused to join her latest trip Malawi because he didn’t want to be involved in the farce any longer.

“They were both very hurt when the first adoption was criticized. But Guy thought it was ridiculous she was going straight back to Malawi with a film crew.

”He feels very uncomfortable about her adoption obsession, especially when she was accused of using her money and fame to fast-track their case.

”At first Guy thought it was a good idea. But then it turned into the Madonna show and he hated the way David’s adoption was used to generate publicity.

“One day when they were together in Malawi together last year they were due at a legal hearing about baby David but they had a huge fight.

“Guy stormed out and slammed the bedroom door with such force that it got jammed and all hell broke lose.

“So when she mentioned doing it all again he went ballistic. He hates the thought of her on a tour of African adoption agencies in chauffeur-driven cars. But Madonna felt he was being unsupportive and critical.”

The couple—who wed in a fairytale ceremony at Skibo Castle, Sutherland, in 2000—also fought over Guy’s nights out drinking with the boys.

On April 19 while Madonna was in Malawi seeking an African sister for little David, and compiling a shortlist of three, Guy was pictured out on the town in London. And only last week he was snapped hitting the dancefloor on a night out.

An inside source said: “Madonna will call Guy constantly if he’s out with the lads. But he likes nothing better then getting away for a bit and slipping down the pub.

“They have a different set of friends. Guy likes to hang out with his mates or go to karate classes. He’s more likely to be seen nursing a pint at his local on a Friday night than out with Madonna.

”And as they spend less and less time together, they’re realizing that they’ve less and less in common.”

Another niggle for Guy — brains behind hit films Snatch and Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels — is having to live in his 48-year-old wife’s shadow.

A friend said: “At first he was bowled over and couldn’t believe his luck in snagging a beautiful, sexy superstar.

”But now he feels she’s so domineering he’s not allowed an opinion of his own. For instance, he’s not keen about her obsession with the Kabbalah sect but Madonna is used to always getting her own way.

“Guy is a big talent in his own right but worries he is turning into Mr Madonna. His career hasn’t exactly blossomed since Madge came on the scene.”

The evident strain between the couple has also sparked an exodus of household staff — despite the fact they are exceptionally well paid.

Two security men handed in their notices a fortnight ago. Devoted driver Marcin and housekeeper Eva leave at the end of the month.

Another source told us: “It’s not just the rows between Guy and Madonna. Everyone’s used to that. But things changed radically after baby David arrived.

“You’d have thought it would unite everyone but it seems to have driven a huge wedge through the household.

“Madonna’s always been a cow to work for—but since taking on David she’s just impossible. Her demands have got even worse—completely unreasonable.

”She’s expecting a lot from her staff but giving very little thanks in return. And no one is standing for that. Not the staff, and not Guy either.”

Friends of the couple believe Madonna—said to be worth £250million—will now spend more time in New York, while Guy stays in England.

One said: “Madonna’s been desperate to go back to the States for a while, but Guy wasn’t happy about moving.