Judge blasts Ant’s no-show in £62million divorce fight (as he’s out walking the dog)
he should have been in a suit and tie, hearing how lawyers intend to split his £62million fortune with his estranged wife.
Instead, Ant McPartlin was in cap and wellies yesterday – taking his dog for a walk with his new lover.
The troubled TV star’s noshow led to a telling off from a high Court judge. hitting out at the presenter, Mr Justice Mostyn said there ‘isn’t one law for the famous and one for the rest of the community’.
McPartlin, 42, was spotted dog-walking on Wimbledon Common with girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett while his lawyers were getting a dressing-down in court. he was seen kicking a football and playing with chocolate labrador hurley, who is expected to be the subject of a custody fight. Mr Justice Mostyn was speaking on the first morning of McPartlin’s increasingly bitter divorce battle. The star’s estranged wife Lisa McPartlin dutifully attended the 30-minute hearing at London’s Family Court in a smart outfit that included a fur-lined gilet, dark pinstripe dress and black YSL handbag. But to the irritation of the judge, McPartlin was absent – a breach of the rules regarding divorce money battles.
Mrs McPartlin, a 41-year-old make-up artist, looked on as the judge railed at the presenter’s legal team: ‘Why is he not here?
‘There isn’t one law for the famous and one for the rest of the community. The rules say he has to be here, or to write in and say “can I be excused?”’
Mr Justice Mostyn said that just because someone had a ‘ public profile’ it did not negate the need for him to ‘comply with the law’. The I’m a Celebrity and Saturday Night Takeaway host must now attend all future hearings unless agreed beforehand.
The McPartlins, who were married for 11 years, were granted a decree nisi in less than 30 seconds last month after the star admitted adultery. McPartlin, who earns around £6.7million a year as one half of TV duo Ant and Dec, entered rehab last year after struggling with a twoyear addiction to superstrength painkillers.
In April, he was banned from the road and fined £86,000 for drink- driving following a car crash in west London.
A spokesman for McPartlin told the Mail last night: ‘Ant was advised by his media barrister that he didn’t need to attend court today. There was absolutely no intent to disrespect the court.’
‘Rules say he has to be here’