Moore's ex-wife to reveal all

In the book, to be published later this month, Nicole Rothschild will describe how the comedian got hooked on crystal meth-amphetamine, and how they used to attack each other in a number of violent outbursts.

She told the Sunday Times: ‘It will be a honest portrayal of our life together. The good, the bad and the extremely ugly.’

The 44-year-old denies she is writing the book for money alone. Moore left nearly half his £5million fortune to her and their son Nicholas, now aged 13

Dudley married Rothschild, a former drug addict in 1994, but she says their marriage started falling apart almost instantly, when Moore started smoking the stimulant known as ‘crank’, which causes compulsive sexual activity.

Rothschild – Moore’s fourth wife – says he demanded she dance semi-naked for hours at his beachside mansion in Los Angeles, and that when she became too tired, he rented prostitutes to do the same.

But even their wedding, Rothschild says Moore lashed out and tried to strangle her. He was arrested but she refused to press charges.

In her divorce petition she admitted to punching Moore in the eye, knocking him to the ground and kicking him after he had attacked her in a drug-induced haze. But she withdrew the petition when she learnt he was dying from a degenerative brain disease that made him appear drunk.

Published: 8 Feb 2009