ANT LEAVES DEC
Star all set to move into €6.3m mansion 8 miles from TV pal
ANT Mcpartlin is getting on his Byker and splitting from best pal Dec Donnelly – by moving into his new mansion.
The property is currently undergoing renovation – and the star was this week spotted chatting to builders on site.
The presenting duo have lived in each other’s pockets for most of their near-30 years working together on TV, even sharing a flat when they first moved to London.
They then bought houses next door to each other in Chiswick. And when Ant got married in 2006, he moved to a €2.6million house just a few streets away.
A year later screen partner Dec bought a €2.2million home in the same road – just three houses along from Ant.
Even when Ant split from wife Lisa in 2017 and moved out of their marital home, the award-winning presenter rented nearby.
But this summer the 43-year-olds will be separated by an eight-mile, 30-minute drive when Ant moves to his South West London mansion, bought last year for €6.3million.
It is understood girlfriend Anne-marie Corbett, 43, will not join him because she already lives close by with her two children.
The move is being seen as his chance to start afresh after his divorce and battles with drink and prescription drugs. He took 2018 off to go to rehab following his drink-driving conviction after a crash in March.
After being banned from driving and fined a record €100,000, Ant stepped down from his TV commitments – leaving Dec to present the final episodes of their Saturday Night Takeaway alone.
Dec also presented the Britain’s Got Talent live shows on his own, but was joined in Australia by Holly Willoughby to co-host I’m A Celebrity.
But he and Ant will be together again next month for the return of Britain’s Got Talent.
In a first look at the trailer, the duo don tails as conductors. Dec is first seen alone, but is joined by Ant after dropping his baton. Clearly their friendship is still safe as houses.
janine.yaqoob@mirror.co.uk