Given the year she’s had, it’s understandable that Lisa Armstrongis looking forward to the end of 2019 and making a fresh start. However, she’s got to get through Christmas first and heat’s been told she’s dreading it, mainly due to her ongoing divorce battle with estranged husband Ant McPartlin, which is currently centred around their dog.
Although the couple split two years ago, they have still yet to reach a financial agreement or custody arrangement for their chocolate Labrador Hurley. And while we’re told Ant is looking forward to his first Christmas in his new home with girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett and her two children, the same can’t be said for Lisa – who’s also facing spending the holidays without her beloved dog, thanks to Ant’s demands.
“Lisa has been dreading Christmas, as she’s had such a tough time this year,” says an insider close to the make-up artist, who sadly lost her dad in May, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
“She knows that Ant will be having the perfect family Christmas with Anne-Marie and her daughters in their new house. Lisa will be with her mum and it’s going to be very hard, as it’ll be the first Christmas without her dad. She’ll do her best to enjoy herself, but it’s going to be difficult – she can’t help but feel lonely and upset, there’s been a few tears.
"She and Ant used to love this time of year, and it will hurt knowing he’s enjoying it with someone else while she still hasn’t moved on to a new relationship.”
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And it doesn’t help that Ant wants to have Hurley this Christmas. He hasn’t spent much time with his pet recently, as he’s been presenting I’m A Celebrity in Australia, and he’s said to be keen to have Hurley at his house so he can bond with his other two dogs, Maltipoos Bumble and Milo. However, we’re told Lisa wants Hurley with her and it’s causing more arguments.
“Lisa is furious that Ant wants Hurley over Christmas – she feels that this is just another jab at her and an example of how careless Ant is regarding her feelings,” our insider says.
“Lisa has said that Ant should be happy spending Christmas with Anne-Marie and her kids, and their new dogs, but he wants Hurley, too, which means Lisa would miss out. That dog has been such a comfort to Lisa, but Ant is keen to have him spend more time with his Maltipoos so they can get used to each other. Anne-Marie’s kids have been growing attached to Hurley, too. Ant’s said the whole family want him around during the holidays, so they can all enjoy going for walks together.”
CHECK OUT: Celebrity splits that shocked the world
RADIO Celebrity splits that shocked the world - slider with cover pic
1 of 27Swipe through to see which celebrity splits shocked the world of showbiz
2 of 27Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Singer Miley Cyrus split from actor Liam Hemsworth in August 2019, despite only getting married in December 2018. Liam released a statement on Instagram, reading, ''Hi all. Just a quick note to say that Miley and I have recently separated and I wish her nothing but health and happiness going forward.'This is a private matter and I have not made, nor will I be making, any comments to any journalists or media outlets. Any reported quotes attributed to me are false. Peace and Love.'
3 of 27Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
After meeting on the set of Step Up in 2006, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan announced their marriage was over in April 2018. Revealing they are still great friends, the couple decided it was time to go their separate ways after almost nine years of marriage.
4 of 27Gabby Allen and Marcel Somerville
After meeting on Love Island 2017, things seemed to be going very well for Gabby Allen and former Blazin' Squad member Marcel Somerville. But in May 2018 allegations that Marcel had cheated on Gabby whilst they were on holiday together surfaced, leading Gabby to reportedly "dump" Marcel.
5 of 27Jake Quickenden and Danielle Fogarty
Dancing On Ice winner Jake Quickenden and Danielle Fogarty split in April 2018, despite being engaged. Speaking in early May, Jake appeared on Lorraine and said the couple are having time apart to focus on their busy work schedules. However, Jake did add, "There's not a bad word. I was with her on Monday, we still talk and I still love her to bits, but sometimes you've got to go away to come back."
6 of 27Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
After two years of marriage, Friends actress Jennifer Aniston and her husband Justin Theroux announced their split in February 2018. Jen said, "We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship."
7 of 27Anna Faris and Chris Pratt
Hollywood actors Anna Faris and Chris Pratt announced their split in August 2017. The pair shocked the world as they always seemed so loved up at events since marrying in 2004.
8 of 27Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
When Brangelina announced they were getting a divorce in 2016, fans were left in shock. The pair had been dating since 2004 and married in 2014. They have six children together.
9 of 27Fergie and Josh Duhamel
Fergie and Josh Duhamel's split rocked fans in September 2017. The couple said, "With absolute love and respect we decided to separate." The pair were married for eight years.
10 of 27Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik
Former One Direction star Zayn Malik popped the question to Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, but just a few months later Zayn dumped his fiancé by text.
11 of 27Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris
Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris seemed very loved up with each other, until they split in 2016 and ended things on very bad terms. Calvin even ended up having a Twitter rant about his ex.
12 of 27Dougie Poynter and Ellie Goulding
Hearts broke all over the world when Ellie Goulding and Dougie Poynter announced their split. After rekindling their romance for a few months, they finally called it quits in 2016. Ellie is now engaged to Caspar Jopling.
13 of 27Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Another massive shock in the world of celeb relationships! Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split in 2012 after six years of marriage. The pair share their daughter Suri together.
14 of 27Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow
After 10 years of marriage, actress Gwyneth Paltrow announced her split from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The split became famous because the former couple bizarrely entitled it "conscious uncoupling."
15 of 27Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner split in 2010 but have since remained great friends and co-parent their children.
16 of 27Jake Roche and Jesy Nelson
Despite popping the question to Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, Rixton frontman Jake Roche couldn't make his relationship work with Jesy, causing the pair to split in 2016.
17 of 27Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney
Pop superstar Lady Gaga shocked her fans in 2016 when she revealed herself and her partner Taylor Kinney were 'taking a break' after a five-year relationship.
18 of 27Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
They were one of Hollywood's hottest couples, so it was a major shock to fans when Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom announced their split in 2013. The pair had been married for just three years.
19 of 27Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green
Professor Green split with former Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh in 2016, just three years after they married. Millie is now dating her ex-boyfriend Hugo Taylor.
20 of 27Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
Singers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale ended their marriage in 2016. The couple have three children together, Zuma, Apollo and Kingston.
21 of 27Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom
They went through a number of ups and downs but Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom's relationship ended after four years of marriage, with Khloe filling for divorce from the basketball player.
22 of 27Will Arnett and Amy Poehler
Will Arnett and Amy Poehler separated back in 2012 after nine years of marriage, but it took until 2016 for the couple's divorce to be finalised.
23 of 27Ariana Grande and Mac Miller
Ariana Grande and Mac Miller announced they had split up in May 2018. The couple had been together for two year and even recorded some duets together. They reportedly chose to end their relationship due to their busy work schedules.
24 of 27Cheryl Tweedy and Liam Payne
After a two year romance and a baby boy, Cheryl Tweedy and Liam Payne announced they'd decided to go their separate ways on Sunday 1st July 2018. Releasing a joint tweet, the statement read, "We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together."
25 of 27Alexandra 'Binky' Felstead and Josh 'JP' Patterson
Despite welcoming their daughter India into the world in 2017, Made In Chelsea stars Binky and JP announced their shock split in September 2018. The couple, who vowed to remain friends with their daughter being their number one priority, released a statement on Instagram.
26 of 27Adele and Simon Konecki
Singer Adele confirmed she'd split from her husband Simon Konecki after three years of marriage. The couple share a son together.
27 of 27Maya Jama and Stormzy
After four years of dating, rapper Stormzy and TV presenter Maya Jama split up to focus on their careers.
Lisa and Ant split around Christmas 2017, after Ant’s second stint in rehab for drink and drug addiction. He announced the end of their 11-year marriage in January 2018 in a solo statement, as Lisa was said to still want to save their relationship.
Ever since then, things have grown increasingly sour between the pair, especially after Ant got together with their former PA Anne-Marie. Ant has described her as “his rock”, and Lisa has made her anger known by liking and sharing social media posts that slate them and say how badly she has been treated by Ant. And while we’re told her ex would like to have had the divorce finalised by now, our source says Lisa is in no hurry.
“Ant had really wanted everything sorted with Lisa, so he could enjoy his first proper Christmas with Anne-Marie in their new home, but Lisa doesn’t see why she should rush things,” says the insider.
“She’s also worried that Ant may propose and isn’t sure how she would cope if he did. She’d dearly love to make a fresh start in 2020, but she won’t agree to a divorce deal that she’s not totally happy with.”
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As heat has reported, Lisa isn’t bothered about Ant’s £62 million fortune and her priority is an agreement for custody of Hurley. She is also refusing to sign an NDA, which Ant is said to be insisting upon. Ant has had his say in a number of tell-all interviews, while Lisa has remained silent, and she wants to go to court in order for her to tell her side of the story, as she feels she has been treated badly.
But for now, the insider says, Lisa is happy to focus on the Strictly final and getting Christmas out of the way before heading to LA in the new year to explore possible work opportunities. “Lisa is trying to take her mind off things by planning another LA getaway to stay with [her actor friend] Craig Robert Young, as well as some meetings with TV execs,” we’re told. “There has been some interest in her in the States. She knows a lot of people in LA and would love to do a makeover show.
“She wants to make a name for herself over there and have somewhere to escape to if things get too much.”
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