Of sisterhood
FORMER FRIENDS: Happier times for Lisa, above left, with Anne-Marie the hands of her best friend of 18 years: “It felt as if there were two deaths, not just my husband of 35 years, but a buddy whom I had loved: the ultimate betrayal. It’s so humiliating to remember sitting at her table tearfully saying how sad I was without him, as she poured out tea without comfort. Of course, she did not confess.”
MEANWHILE on a Netmums forum one wife confided: “When I was eight weeks pregnant I discovered my husband had been having an affair with my best friend. Obviously I was totally devastated. To make matters worse I had been suffering with depression – my husband and BF were the only people who knew how ill I was. My BF is a trainee midwife and was going to be with me at the birth of my baby, alongside my husband. I was so excited but she wasn’t, she tried to persuade me, and my husband unbeknownst to me, that I shouldn’t have the baby. I thought this was because of my illness, apparently not.”
Jo Hemmings warns that in addition to the devastation wrought on his wife, Ant is risking the success of his TV career – and potentially that of his co-presenter, Declan Donnelly whose wife Ali Astall is expecting their first child in September. Ironically, Ant was one of the first to be told the happy news in May, and although already estranged from her husband, Lisa instantly “liked” the couple’s announcement on Twitter.
“Another issue is that we are talking about Ant McPartlin here, one half of the most popular presenting partnerships in the country,” says Jo. “I think Ant and Anne-Marie’s relationship will put a dent in Ant’s professional standing with Dec. These old, old friends used to mirror each other’s lives. Now they are at polar extremes with Dec about to become a father and Ant embroiled in a love triangle and a messy divorce.”
When it comes to support it seems the sisterhood – excluding one AnneMarie Corbett – is firmly behind Lisa.
As for Ant, Jo says he cannot undo the hurt he has inflicted on a wife whom he once loved dearly but he can limit the distress from here on in. “I would advise Ant and Anne-Marie to withdraw from the spotlight and not flaunt their love in front of Lisa as this will only make matters worse.”