Lisa Armstrong braces herself for Ant’s baby news
She thinks Anne-marie has replaced her
The arrival of a new baby should be a happy time. But, for Lisa Armstrong, the birth of Declan Donnelly’s daughter has brought fresh heartache.
Last week, pictures emerged of Lisa’s estranged husband Ant Mcpartlin and his new girlfriend visiting Dec’s house. The couple were there to celebrate Dec’s 43rd birthday, along with his wife Ali Astall and their new baby daughter, Isla. And we’re told that Lisa, 41, found it very difficult to deal with. “Seeing someone you loved move on is one of the most painful things for any woman to endure, let alone having to see it so publicly with no consideration for the emotional impact it has on her life. It’s unbearable for Lisa,” an insider tells heat.
We’re told the make-up artist – who was good friends with Ali, as well as Ant’s new girlfriend, Anne-marie Corbett, before the split – feels like she’s watching another woman live her life. “Lisa’s said the betrayal is harder than the split,” says the insider. “She knows the divorce will be over one day, but the pain will still remain. She has always had her doubts about Anne-marie and now feels she’s been vindicated.”
The arrival of Dec and Ali’s little girl may also have brought back painful memories for Lisa, as Ant had spoken about how they tried to have a family together. “Lisa feels like she hasn’t got anywhere close to the fairy-tale life she had hoped for,” our insider says. “And now it seems like Ant has replaced her with a woman who had a ready-made family [Anne-marie has two children from her marriage]. Lisa feels like she’s just waiting to hear they’re going to have their own baby.”
Anne-marie, 42 – who worked as Ant’s personal assistant before he broke up with Lisa – separated from her husband Scott last October, before being pictured with Ant, also 42, in March this year. And while Lisa has been moving on with her life and working back as a make-up artist on Strictly Come Dancing, our insider tells us she is, “looking forward to seeing this year out”, adding, “She’s endured an emotional roller coaster and maintained a dignified silence, but she won’t ever forgive the woman who took her husband and took over her life.” n Katie Holloway