Ant McPartlin, 42, has revealed he is divorcing his wife of 11 years, Lisa Armstrong, 41.
Ant’s spokesman confirmed to MailOnline on Saturday: ‘In response to the recent speculation in the media, Ant is very sad to announce that, after 11 years, he is ending his marriage to Lisa McPartlin.
‘Ant asks for privacy at this difficult time, for both himself, Lisa and their immediate families. No further statement will be made.’
Scroll down for video
End of an era: Ant McPartlin, 42, has revealed he is divorcing his wife of 11 years, Lisa Armstrong, 41. The news was confirmed to MailOnline in a statement
A source close to Ant added to The Sun On Sunday: ‘This was a tough decision for Ant but he has to do the right thing for his health. The marriage has effectively been struggling for eight months. He’s given it a good go.
They added: ‘Ant’s big concern in the whole thing is Lisa and making it as easy as possible for her.’
Ant and Strictly Come Dancing make-up artist Lisa have known each other for 23 years and tied the knot in 2006.
MailOnline has contacted Lisa’s representatives for further comment.
Happier times: Ant and Strictly Come Dancing make-up artist Lisa have known each other for 23 years and tied the knot in 2006
Split: Ant’s spokesman told MailOnline he was ‘very sad’ to announce the end of the marriage (pictured heading to his mother’s house for Christmas on December 22 in Newcastle)
Living apart: Ant has been living apart from partner Lisa, having moved out of the £6million property they share last year following his stint in rehab for an addiction to painkillers
Ant has been living apart from partner Lisa, having moved out of the £6million property they share last year following his stint in rehab for an addiction to painkillers.
He had spent the last two months filming in Australia for ITV reality show I’m A Celebrity, but Lisa was unable to join him overseas, due to her commitments to BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.
At the time, Lisa dismissed claims that this made her ‘estranged’ from husband Ant, explaining that she had not been out to Australia with him for 10 years.
Going their separate ways: Ant pictured outside his rented home in London in the first week of January
Oh dear: It comes after claims that Ant felt there was ‘no way back’ for their 11-year marriage – something that Lisa (seen in 2010) was said to be ‘struggling to accept’
Out with the old! Lisa likened 2017 to a steaming bag of garbage as she posted a telling meme to Twitter on New Year’s Eve amid the couple’s marital woes
Back in November, she denied the pair had separated with the defiant Tweet: ‘I’m not estranged, thank you’.
A source told the Sunday Mirror that Lisa reportedly felt more ‘independent, happier and stronger’ while Ant was in Oz.
The insider said: ‘Ant has had a dreadful year, but Lisa has been through hell too. The intense pressure of the situation has left her emotionally drained and was really taking its toll.
‘Back in October she was terribly stressed and worried and seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.’
It was continued: ‘It was clear those close to her she was heartbroken. But it’s been so much happier since they’ve been living apart – especially when he flew to Australia to film I’m A Celebrity.’
End of the road? The make-up artist thought talking things out with her husband could help smooth out their issues but is ‘gradually realising’ that it’s over, sources claimed (seen in 2016)
Tough times: Ant suffered a difficult 2017, after admitting in June he had been battling a two-year addiction to painkillers after a devastating knee injury and fertility issues
While Lisa did not make any official comments about divorce claims at the time, she posted a telling meme in the early hours of January 1 that appeared to speak volumes – it showed a cartoon version of herself holding a bag of rubbish.
In the image, the caricature is seen holding out the steaming bin bag of trash which exudes a green gas, drips with toxic-looking fluid and is swarmed by flies.
On the bag it simply says ‘2017’ in the same radioactive-looking green that seeps from the bottom of the bag, and ‘Lisa’ holds her nose.
Ant suffered a difficult 2017, after admitting in June he had been battling a two-year addiction to painkillers after a devastating knee injury and fertility issues.
In the past: The couple married in Cliveden House in Berkshire in July 2006 after meeting at a concert in Newcastle (seen here in 2002)
No more: Lisa was previously a member of pop band Deuce in the Nineties and is now a makeup artist on Strictly Come Dancing (seen with Ant in 2003)
No more: The couple are pictured here with Declan and his actress ex-girlfriend Clare Buckfield (pictured in 2001)
He revealed his plans to check in to rehab for alcohol and drug addiction, when he gave a candid interview admitting he had ‘let people down’, before thanking his wife Lisa and co-star Declan for the support they had provided.
The I’m A Celebrity… host said that things started to spiral out of control two years ago when he had an operation to fix cartilage in his right knee.
In a bid to numb the pain, Ant began taking the prescription drug Tramadol and soon realised that he’d become hooked on the painkiller, which can cause speech disturbances, lack of co-ordination, headaches and drowsiness.
Speaking previously, the Saturday Night Takeaway star said: ‘I’ve put Lisa through hell with mood swings and depression and how it affects you.
‘I’m very sorry about the effect it has on partners. This kind of stuff puts strains on any marriage.’
Lisa said she was overwhelmed with support in a touching Twitter message shortly after Ant checked into rehab.
She wrote: ‘Completely overwhelmed by all your love & support it means so much. I’m relieved he’s receiving the help he needs, we just need him better.’
Hard times: After a rehab stint in the summer, Ant returned to screens to present I’m A Celebrity (pictured) despite much speculation that he could be replaced
Tough: Speaking previously, the Saturday Night Takeaway star said: ‘I’ve put Lisa through hell with mood swings and depression and how it affects you’
Ant had initially hidden his addictions from Lisa and his best friend and presenting partner Declan Donnelly.
Ant and Lisa had met at a pop concert at Newcastle City Hall in 1994, when she was performing with Deuce and he was performing with Declan in their band PJ & Duncan.
After dating for more than a decade, Ant proposed to her during a romantic sun-drenched holiday in Dubai on April 26, 2005.
They tied the knot at Cliveden House on July 22, 2006 in Taplow, Buckinghamshire. The couple never had children, but in an interview in 2017, Ant said they would ‘love’ to have kids.
He said: ‘Lisa works in the industry and understands it. She’s constantly working – sometimes more than me!’
‘We would love to have a family so fingers crossed. ’If we’re blessed with children, then we’d be over the moon!’
Penance: He added: ‘I’m very sorry about the effect it has on partners. This kind of stuff puts strains on any marriage’ (seen with Lisa in 2015)
In happier times: Ant was accompanied by Lisa when he received his OBE in 2017 alongside Declan (seen with his wife Ali Astall) for his services to broadcasting and entertainment
- Inside Ant McPartlin’s love life – ex-wife Lisa Armstrong to fiancée Anne-Marie Corbett
- Ant McPartlin cuts a casual figure as he takes his dog for a walk weeks ahead of wedding to fiancée Anne-Marie Corbett
- Lisa Armstrong soaks up sun wearing huge jewelled shades and bandeau bikini top as she flashes a smile while enjoying staycation
- Ant McPartlin's ex Lisa Armstrong unrecognisable in stunning throwback snap
- Inside Ant McPartlin’s love life – from ex-wife Lisa Armstrong to fiancé Anne-Marie
- Lisa Armstrong 'too happy to care' about Ant McPartlin's upcoming wedding
- Dec Donnelly still waiting for Ant McPartlin to ask him to be best man amid engagement to Anne-Marie Corbett
- Lisa Armstrong declares 'love is all you need' as she shows off heart-themed nails
- Ant McPartlin 'dating his personal assistant Anne-Marie Corbett'
- Ant McPartlin is all smiles on booze-free golfing stag-do with Declan Donnelly
- Ant McPartlin says his ‘greatest love’ is girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett and her daughters
- Ant McPartlin 'sets August date' to marry Anne-Marie Corbett in church ceremony
- Ant McPartlin's luxury £100k wedding reception venue revealed as glamorous hotel
- Ant McPartlin is all smiles as he counts down to his wedding day to Anne Marie on dog walk with his three pooches
- Declan Donnelly doubts he’ll be Ant McPartlin’s best man: ‘It’s between me and the dog’
- Ant McPartlin wedding: Inside the lavish ‘£100k' big day as he sets to marry Anne-Marie
- Inside Ant McPartlin’s wedding with 100 guests staying in £1k-a-night rooms – and spa treatments thrown in
- Ant McPartlin’s posh wedding venue revealed ahead of marriage to Anne Marie
- Ant McPartlin and Anne-Marie’s wedding flowers arrive at glamorous venue where couple will tie the knot
- Ant McPartlin to get married in front of Amanda Holden & Holly Willoughby but Simon Cowell won’t be there
Ant McPartlin is filing for DIVORCE from wife of 11 years Lisa Armstrong following emotional crisis talks months after he left rehab for painkiller addiction have 1802 words, post on www.dailymail.co.uk at January 13, 2018. This is cached page on Travel News. If you want remove this page, please contact us.