Rourke won the sympathy of the nation when it was revealed that he had already accepted an £83,000 pay-out as "full and final settlement" of a similar claim he launched earlier against Morrissey and Marr.

"I just hope Mike has sympathy when he gets his million," quipped a remarkably philosophical Rourke, adding:"I was pleased for Mike. I was well chuffed. It was a moral victory."

Rourke could not afford to pursue his case to the High Court. He said:"When The Smiths split up, Morrissey and Marr didn't pay us for two years. We were told we couldn't get legal aid and, basically, I couldn't afford to see it through. Also, I was getting married at the time. Mike had been a bit more wise with his money and could see it through."

Asked if he was surprised that Joyce had been awarded a million, Rourke said:"No, because it's obvious we knew the figures involved. I do know that Mike's not got it yet."

Is there any possibility that Rourke could now re-open his own case?

"I'm speaking to my lawyers," he replied. "I can't really say a lot about it."

Judge Weeks, who also ordered Morrissey and Marr to pay Joyce's £300,000 legal costs, at one point described Morrissey as "devious, truculent and unreliable".

"He just sort of came across wrong in court," said Rourke. "He just came across as Morrissey, but to a court judge, that probably is truculent. I don't think he did himself any favours. It was a difficult situation to be in, but I think he found it a lot more difficult than the rest of us."

Asked how he felt about Morrissey now, Rourke said:"I think probably I sleep better at night. I might be skint, but I might sleep better. I don't have any regrets about being in The Smiths. Not at all. I enjoyed it. I don't bear any malice or anything. It's a pretty painful thing to have gone through and it was a shame that it had to happen, but it had to be done."

So Morrissey's not on your Christmas card list any more?

"No," said Rourke. "I don't think I'm on his, though."

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