BRAD PITT - ANISTON AND PITT HIT WITH SPLIT SPECULATION

BRAD PITT and JENNIFER ANISTON were expected to announce the end of their four-year marriage on Monday (03MAY04) - but an announcement failed to materialise because it wasn't true.

News of a separation was expected to arrive at 5.30pm in Los Angeles, but the world's showbiz media were left disappointed.

As photographers camped outside their home, Pitt - fresh from singing his wife's praises on OPRAH WINFREY's television show - visited MTV's popular TOTAL REQUEST LIVE in New York City for an interview before screaming fans.

While the pair have faced constant stories speculating a troubled union, things started to heat up on Saturday (01MAY04) when Pitt arrived at New York's L'UOMO VOGUE event solo, while his wife was nowhere to be seen.

A source at the party says, "Word was, he and Jen were kaput."

By Monday morning, the split rumour had gathered momentum and hordes of news reporters and paparazzi camped outside the couple's plush Beverly Hills home.

But Pitt's representative insists, "The rumours have no kernel of truth."

The couple are set to attend Monday's (10MAY04) premiere of Pitt's latest movie TROY in New York together, then fly to France's CANNES FILM FESTIVAL before jetting around Europe filming the actor's upcoming OCEAN'S TWELVE.