A Saturday bride takeaway as celebrity pals join Ant’s big day
Star jubilant as happy day puts an end to turbulent time in personal life
Presenter Ant Mcpartlin punched the air with joy yesterday after tying the knot with fiancee Anne-marie Corbett in front of friends and family.
Declan Donnelly, the other half of Britain’s most popular presenting duo, was his best man – for the second time – and the pair waved to wellwishers before going into the church in Hampshire.
The happy day ends a turbulent period in the presenter’s personal life after the collapse of his first marriage and a drink problem and addiction to painkillers led to a road accident.
After successfully battling his demons and rebuilding his career, he looked jubilant yesterday as he waited for his bride to arrive.
She wore a floor-length dress by designer Suzanne Neville, costing a reputed £15,000, while the groom
wore a traditional black suit, black bow tie and white shirt.
Best man Donnelly, who has presented a string of hit shows with his partner including I’m A Celebrity and Saturday Night Takeaway, gave a thumbs-up as he left the wedding with his wife Ali. The newly-weds shared a kiss before departing in a black Rolls Royce Cullinan.
Guests included TV’S Phillip Schofield, David Walliams and Dermot O’leary, husband and wife presenters Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley, and ex-footballer Frank Lampard and his television presenter wife Christine. Singer Alesha Dixon, Ant’s Britain’s Got Talent co-star, were also there. Afterwards, Schofield, said: “It was amazing and great fun. Really enjoyed it.”
Walliams said: “It was very romantic and very fun. They’ve both got a great sense of humour.”
Presenter and comedian Stephen Mulhern was given a lead role at the ceremony, and performed a mini comedy routine which poked fun at both Ant and Dec. One guest said: “No-one was expecting it but he had everyone in laughter. It gave the wedding a really light-hearted feel.”
The wedding ceremony itself had begun at 1pm in the 13th century St Michael’s church, in the village of Heckfield. Dozens of fans, as well as a bank of photographers, gathered outside the church to catch a glimpse of the happy couple.
A team of florists had earlier transformed the venue, creating an archway of pink and purple hydrangeas and roses under which the couple and their guests walked.
Reverend Canon Marion De Quidt gestured to well-wishers as she stood under the floral arch display just before guests arrived, as the earlier wet weather gave way to sunshine. After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests headed afterwards to Heckfield Place, a Georgian family home which has been transformed into a luxury hotel and is set within 400 secluded acres.
Ant is said to have spent £100,000 to put up the couple’s guests at the venue this weekend, with all food and drink paid for.
The groom, 45, and Anne-marie, 43, were reportedly planning to marry abroad but opted to host the ceremony in the UK because of the pandemic. The couple are believed to be planning a honeymoon accompanied by her two children from her previous relationship.
Mcpartlin began dating Anne Marie in 2018. They got together following his separation from Lisa
It was very romantic and fun – they have a great sense of humour
Armstrong, his wife of 11 years. He proposed to Anne-marie last Christmas Eve and credits her with helping him through the drink and prescription drug addiction issues that threatened his career and his health in 2017. He pleaded guilty to drink-driving after a car crash the following year and then took a year out from TV work.
The presenter had known Anne-marie as his personal assistant for several years. She worked with Dec’s wife at a Londonbased management company before working for Ant on a fulltime basis.
Mcpartlin, from Newcastle-upon-tyne, has previously described Anne-marie as his “rock” after she supported him following his 2018 arrest and stint in rehab.