Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ANT’S WIFE ‘BETRAYED’
Heartbroken ex’s agony as TV legend finds love with one of her closest friends
ANT Mcpartlin’s ex has told of her heartache after it was revealed he is dating her pal.
Lisa Armstrong claimed she only discovered on Twitter that the TV star’s new love is his PA Anne-marie Corbett. She said: “To think, she was my friend... who I let into our home.” Ant is divorcing Lisa, left.
FRIENDS last night rallied round Lisa Armstrong after she discovered Ant Mcpartlin is dating one of her close pals.
The troubled TV star’s ex-wife was left devastated at news he had found love with his PA Anne-marie Corbett, a 42-year-old mum-of-two who split from her husband last October.
And furious Lisa claimed Ant did not tell her about the relationship and has failed to contact her since the revelations came out yesterday – just months after he announced he was divorcing his wife of 11 years.
Lisa said she only found out the couple were an item on Twitter. She later posted a broken heart emoji.
Pal Nicola Mclean wished her well and she replied: “Thanks babe and to think she was MY friend!! xx”
In response to another message, Lisa, 41, wrote: “Yeah My Friend and OUR Pa who I let into OUR home.”
Another follower said they hoped Ant had “the decency to at least contact you today”, to which she replied: “Nope.”
Lisa also “liked” a series of messages of support as well, including one which read: “Lost all my respect for Ant, not having the decency and respect to tell you about his new relationship.”
One supporter tweeted: “So much for the girl code. Keep that gorgeous dignified chin held high. Wishing you nothing but happiness in the future xx.” Lisa wrote back: “Exactly!! x.” Sources have stressed Ant was not linked to the breakdown of Anne-marie’s marriage to husband Scott and he was not seeing her during his marriage.
The 42-year-old presenter has been pictured with his new love recently.
They were spotted in a park near his home in South West London. Anne-marie was yesterday pictured arriving at her home in nearby New Malden. She and Ant were last night approached for comment.
It was revealed in a series of tweets her friendship with Lisa dates back to 2012. Last year Lisa posted a picture of herself and Anne-marie together saying: “Just hanging with my homie.”
Anne-marie has been employed by the same London-based management company as Declan Donnelly’s wife Ali Astall for 10 years.
But it is claimed she began working closely with Ant only recently. He met
her children during a trip to Harrods at the beginning of this month.
Anne-marie also showed up at the police station when he was arrested for drink-driving after he ploughed his Mini into two other cars in March.
And she was in court to see him banned and fined £86,000. The popular Geordie pleaded guilty to driving with 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
Make-up artist Lisa still wore her wedding ring despite Ant announcing in January the pair were divorcing.
She still has a picture of him on her Twitter profile and reports earlier this year suggested she hoped for a reconciliation. But Ant has remained resolute that there is no way back.
Within weeks of the presenter’s return from Australia after filming I’m A Celebrity... his spokesman said: “In response to the recent speculation in the media, Ant is very sad to announce that, after 11 years, he is ending his marriage to Lisa Mcpartlin. No further statement will be made.”
Ant stepped down from his television presenting commitments after the car crash in Richmond, South West London.
He checked into a rehab clinic to deal with his boozing.
It is the second time he has had treatment after a spell last year for an addiction to prescription medicine.
It is unclear when Ant, who presented I’m a Celebrity… with Dec, will be back on our TV screens.
There are suggestions it will be December when the jungle show returns but that is unconfirmed. Friends have said there is “no rush” to make a decision.
Dec recently presented the Britain’s Got Talent live shows on his own, as well as the finale of Saturday Night Takeaway. ITV were “very pleased” with him as a solo star.
However, they are keen to reunite him with Ant but only when he is “ready to return”.
My friend and our PA who I let into our home LISA AFTER FINDING OUT ABOUT ANT’S NEW LOVE