Inside Ant McPartlin and Lisa Armstrong's marriage and what 'really broke' it

Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin's 11-year marriage ended dramatically. The pair, who first crossed paths in their teenage years, had a relationship spanning 23 years.

However, it turned sour amid their struggles with infertility and Ant's highly publicised battle with drug addiction. Despite Lisa's unwavering support during these tough times, the couple parted ways in 2018, after 11 years of marriage.

Following their very public split, Ant found love again with his former PA, Anne-Marie Corbett, and the two were married by 2021. The joyous occasion of welcoming their son Wilder Patrick McPartlin was announced on Tuesday. An elated Ant shared with his followers: "Baby is beautiful, Mummy's a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad's a mess."

Following the news, Lisa, 47, hinted at personal challenges on her Instagram, posting a poignant message about resilience. She shared a quote which read: "Be proud of how you have been handling these past few months. The silent battles you've fought, the moments you've had to humble yourself, the times you've wiped your own tears. Celebrate your strength."

Ant's announcement coincided with a poignant moment for Lisa, as she commemorated the fifth anniversary of her dad's passing, reports the Mirror. She shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, posting an image of her late dad Derek's gravestone, which bore the inscription: "In loving memory of Dot Armstrong tragically taken on 29.6.1992 and Derek John Armstrong 12.4.1948 - 13.5.2019. Sadly missed husband, dad and grampy. Forever in our hearts." Accompanying the photo, Lisa wrote: "My heart.... 5 years #MyDegs #MyHero."

A close pal of Lisa revealed that she was 'heartbroken' upon learning that Ant, her ex-husband, was expecting a child with his new partner, especially since they had not had children during their marriage. A colleague of Lisa's confided to the Mail: "Can you imagine having to see that if you're Lisa? It must literally have left her heartbroken. She tried so hard for their marriage, she tried so hard to save him and when they split she was left without a baby."

The breakdown of their marriage

The source also alleged that Ant did not personally inform Lisa about his impending fatherhood. They continued: "It broke poor Lisa, she gave him 23 years of her life, practically all of her adult life. Then when Ant is to be a dad he didn't even have the decency to tell her. She had to read about it in the Mail."

Ant and Lisa's marriage faced numerous heart-wrenching challenges, particularly towards its end. In 2013, Ant opened up about their struggles with conceiving, telling Radio Times: "Lisa and I would love to have kids. We're trying. It's tougher than you think when you get a bit older." The couple had been eager to start a family for some time.

Their relationship began to show signs of strain following Ant's addiction to strong painkillers after a knee operation in 2015. Despite the difficulties, Lisa remained steadfastly by his side, supporting him through his recovery efforts.

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However, a close friend of Lisa, who works as a makeup artist, confided to the Mail that it was during this period she sensed their marriage hitting turbulent times. They revealed: "She went through hell. She wasn't sure if her marriage would survive, but she stood by him to try to save him. It was so hard for her. Ant was in such a bad way she often feared the situation was untenable."

The situation escalated when Ant checked into rehab in 2018 after being involved in a car crash while over the legal alcohol limit, resulting in a 20-month driving ban and an £86,000 fine.

Reflecting on the impact of his issues on their relationship, Ant acknowledged the toll it took. "I've put Lisa through hell with mood swings and depression and how it affects you," he said. "I'm very sorry about the effect it has on partners. This kind of stuff puts strains on any marriage." In that year, amidst their personal turmoil, they divorced while living in their £6million Chiswick home, shared with their beloved Labrador, Hurley.

While many celebrity couples opt for a joint statement when they part ways, Ant McPartlin went it alone. This move was said to be due to Lisa Armstrong's decision not to release a joint statement after she sought legal counsel.

The announcement came solely from his side, which stated: "Ant is very sad to announce that, after 11 years, he is ending his marriage to Lisa." Following their split, Lisa entered a relationship with electrician James Green, which lasted three years before they parted ways in 2023.

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