Ant Mcpartlin’s still in rehab, and now he has to fight to save his marriage
After two months in rehab, the strain on his relationship has been huge
After two months in rehab for addiction to prescription drugs and depression, Ant Mcpartlin could be facing his toughest battle yet – the fight to save his 11-year marriage.
The TV presenter has publicly said that he’s put his wife Lisa through hell in recent months, as his reliance on painkillers and alcohol reached breaking point. Pictured a few days ago on a rehab day out and still sporting crutches following knee surgery, Ant, 41, recently revealed that “only time will tell” if they can survive it.
“While Ant and Lisa remain completely devoted to each other, they’ve been through so much the past few months, it’s only natural their marriage has been put under strain,” explains heat’s insider. “Lisa has had to cope without him being there and adjust her life while he’s been getting treatment. It’s been hard for her – she had hardly any contact with him while he was in rehab.”
The couple’s gruelling work schedules are also adding pressure and, as heat previously reported, Lisa – who is currently head of make-up and hair at
Strictly Come Dancing – even offered to give up her job to help her husband through his troubles. “Lisa was thinking of quitting
Strictly, but has decided to go back,” the insider adds. “It’s going to be tough, as she’ll be working flat-out until Christmas, and Ant is still hoping to go to Australia for I’m A Celebrity… in November, meaning they won’t get to spend a lot of time together.”
Ant’s problems began after he became addicted to a combination of tramadol, morphine and alcohol as he struggled to recover from a knee operation. The star’s monthslong slide into dependency culminated with Ant begging Lisa, 40, to take him to hospital. “I was at the point where anything – prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs – I would take. Doctors told me I could have killed myself,” he’s confessed.
Ant, who has been with Lisa for over 20 years, said he finally realised he needed help when the pain got too much for him and screamed at Lisa to phone an ambulance for him at 5am one morning. “I was insane. It sends you crazy. It was to the point of hearing things, seeing things in the garden and still the pain was getting worse,” he recalled. “The ambulance came and took me to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. I was depressed through the whole thing, because I was in pain and immobile.”
After his admissions, Ant took to Twitter and said, “Have to say I’m overwhelmed by everyone’s love, support and well wishes today. Thank you one and all. I’m sending all my love back.” Ant also credits Lisa and TV partner and best friend Declan Donnelly, 41, for helping him get through it all, but we’re told he knows there’s still a long way to go. “Ant knows he has a lot of making up to do , and while they both want the marriage to work, there’s no denying these next few months will be crucial for them,” says our source. “This is the toughest test they’ve ever had, but they are very strong and have a good support network around them. Any couple would struggle, let alone one with things being played out so publicly.” n SOPHIE GODDARD