Things aren’t looking good for Ant Mcpartlin and wife Lisa Armstrong as he moves out of their family home
He’s moved out, she’s had enough
Well, this is sad news for a dreary November. Things were supposed to be going so much better for Ant Mcpartlin and his wife Lisa Armstrong. After spending months battling an addiction to prescription drugs, the TV presenter was given the all-clear to resume his co-hosting duties next week on I’m A Celeb… But any hopes that his improved health would have a knock-on effect on his rocky marriage look to have been pretty much dashed – with the pair now living apart.
Insiders tell heat that the former teenage sweethearts – who have been together for 23 years – could be past the point of no return. “It’s not only Ant going through hell. Lisa’s emotionally exhausted and has been run into the ground,” says a source close to the pair. “It’s increasingly been a oneway marriage and she seems to have nothing left to give.”
Last week, it was revealed that Ant, who’s 41, is renting a house around the corner to the west-london mansion he shares with Lisa, and has been seen walking their dog Hurley in the area. According to sources, he’s saying he still needs space, and Lisa, also 41, is finding the whole situation very difficult. We’re told she’s telling friends that there is only a “thin chance” they’ll make it. “She lives in hope of a miracle,” our source tells us. “But Lisa feels that if he did really want to save their marriage, he would be making more of an effort. She feels broken and upset that, while everyone feels sorry for Ant, they don’t think much about the longsuffering wife in the wings.” In August, Ant publicly discussed the impact that his addiction to painkillers – following an operation on his knee two years ago – had on their relationship, admitting that, “This kind of stuff puts a strain on any marriage.” He also admitted to substance and alcohol abuse, and there were rumours the pair had struggled to cope with being unable to start a family. Ant spent two months in rehab, followed by another month recuperating in LA.
Now, as Ant prepares to relocate to Australia for another few weeks while Lisa keeps up her demanding job as chief make-up artist on Strictly Come Dancing, it looks like the distance between them is only set to grow. ■