Cruise and Miscavige - who the Hollywood star reportedly calls COB, short for 'Chairman of the Board' - are apparently 'inseperable', and have even been known to wear matching black silk shirts, it is claimed.

Miscavige, 52, was the actor's best man at his wedding to Dawson's Creek star Holmes five years ago.

The Scientology chief runs the controversial religion's 500-acre HQ in California.

And Cruise has in the past proved himself enamoured, saying of Miscavige in 2005: “I have never met a more competent, more intelligent, more tolerant, more compassionate being outside of what I’ve experienced from [founder of Scientology] L Ron Hubbard.” 

An inside source has been quoted as claiming that Cruise and Miscavige are "joined at the hip".

The source continued: "Tom runs every important decision in his life by him.

“Tom really values his opinion and Katie often felt like she came in second place. When it became clear how much influence he had over her husband she knew she had to get away.”

Cruise and Holmes' divorce looks set to be one of the most explosive in showbiz, with revelations concerning Cruise's involvement with Scientology - considered by many to be a creepy cult - leaking every day since the announcement of the split.

This one is set to run and run.

Image: Getty