I'm so sorry, says McCartney aide

Sir Paul McCartney's publicist today spoke of his deep regret at the incident.

Geoff Baker took the blame for alerting our photographers to Sir Paul's presence at the Blaine stunt after the former Beatle and a group of friends had decided to visit the site.

Baker said: "It was a mistake and I am very sorry today. We went out for a meal in Soho - a whole bunch of friends. At the end we decided to go and see the David Blaine thing.

"Paul was standing there watching it. Then I, very stupidly, walked up to a paparazzi photographer and mentioned that Macca was around. I tipped the guy off and said to him to be very subtle about photographing him. Unfortunately, the guy started rattling off a load of photographs.

"Paul was quite rightly upset. There was shouting and at one point Paul and his mates were standing up against the photographers.

"Then when he discovered
what I had done, Paul said to the photographers: 'It's not your fault, it's our publicity guy's fault.' That was about 1am. I haven't spoken to Paul since. It's now up to him as to whether I am still working for him. Last thing he shouted at me was that I was fired.

"There was a lot of swearing going on. Paul was very angry. He hadn't actually been drinking - but I had.

"I have been working for Paul for 14 years. I have no idea what I am going to do now. He certainly has never said I was fired before."