If you've suffered the horror, possibly humiliation, of a broken engagement, take comfort this Valentine's Day - you're not alone.

And, very possibly, you've not had to go through the wringer with the world and his happily-married wife watching every comfort chocolate you scoff, every bag full of shopping therapy you carry, every misjudged rebound kiss.

ryan gosling
Happy days for Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, co-stars of The Notebook

So here, for broken hearts everywhere, is a lesson in how to split with dignity, divide up the spoils and - shivers at the thought - hand back the ring, even in the glare of the ready-to-pounce paparazzi...