Lisa Armstrong, the ex-wife of Ant McPartlin, jetted off to Portugal just 24 hours after Ant announced the birth of his first child with his wife Anne-Marie. The makeup artist, 47, was reportedly trying to get away from the buzz surrounding the news of Ant becoming a father. Ant and Lisa had a bitter divorce in 2018 after 11 years of marriage, during which they revealed the challenges they faced in trying to conceive. Ant’s announcement of his baby appeared to be overwhelming for Lisa, who had recently shared cryptic messages on social media about her own struggles.
Hours before Ant shared the news of his newborn son, Lisa had posted a message on Instagram about handling silent battles and celebrating one’s strength. In his own announcement of becoming a father, Ant shared a photo cradling his baby boy and expressing his joy at becoming a parent. The news was well received by friends and fans, including fellow celebrities who congratulated him on his new role as a dad. Ant had previously spoken publicly about his desire to have children and had tried to conceive with Lisa during their marriage, which ended childless in 2018.
The custody battle over their pet dog Hurley was also a point of contention during Ant and Lisa’s divorce. The former couple agreed to share custody of the dog and take turns looking after him, with Ant reportedly telling lawyers that Lisa could have anything she wanted except the dog. Lisa later expressed her desire for full-time custody of Hurley, arguing that it was fair since Ant had two other dogs from a previous marriage. Despite the challenges and disagreements they faced during their divorce, both Ant and Lisa have moved on with their lives post-divorce.
Ant and Anne-Marie, who had a star-studded wedding in Hampshire in 2021, welcomed their first child together, a son named Wilder Patrick. The news of Anne-Marie’s pregnancy came as a delightful surprise to Ant, who had come to terms with the possibility of not becoming a father. Ant has been described as a wonderful doting father to Anne-Marie’s two children from a previous marriage, and he is looking forward to being a hands-on dad to his newborn son. He has already made his longtime friend and colleague Declan Donnelly the godfather to Wilder Patrick, reflecting the strong bonds of friendship and support in his life.
Ant’s focus on family and fatherhood has led him to take some time off work to be with his newborn son and partner. He will not return to work until the end of May, as he takes paternity leave to spend time with his new family. Ant and Anne-Marie have been overwhelmed with messages of congratulations and support from friends, family, and fans. They are looking forward to embracing parenthood together and creating a loving and nurturing environment for their son. Despite the challenges and emotional complexities of his past, Ant is now embracing this new chapter in his life with gratitude and joy.
