Who among us hasn’t spent a significant portion of the last two months fantasising about going on holiday? It’s the light at the end of the tunnel – and Lisa Armstrong is no different.
According to insiders, the make-up artist has been struggling like the best of us with isolation, especially as, pre-lockdown, she’d been so close to finally moving on from all the pain and loneliness of her and ex-husband Ant McPartlin’s two-year divorce battle.
Since her decree absolute was granted two weeks ago, she’s also had to deal with the fact that Ant may now propose to his current girlfriend, so it’s understandable Lisa wants to get away from it all – and take along those who have supported her through this tough time.
Check out: Ant and Dec's career in pictures
Ant and Dec career timeline
1 of 8And & Dec: Early career
Ant & Dec as PJ and DuncanIn 1989 Dec landed a part on BBC children's drama Byker Grove, playing Duncan. A year later Ant was cast as PJ – PJ and Duncan was born.Another career change for the boys came in 1994, when they began as co-presenters of children's show Gimme 5 on CITV. Just a year later they landed their own programme, The Ant & Dec Show, this time on CBBC.
2 of 8And & Dec: Early career
Ant & Dec became popstarsIt wasn't just acting for the boys: PJ & Duncan were pop stars for a while, and became best known for their 1994 UK top 10 Let's Get Ready to Rhumble.Their last studio album, The Cult of Ant and Dec, was released in 1997, managing to chart at number 15.
3 of 8And & Dec: Early career
Ant & Dec hosted SMTV and CD
4 of 8Ant & Dec: Primetime career
They hit the prime time with talent show Pop IdolThey presented Pop Idol for two years, before it replaced with The X Factor and Kate Thornton took over.This gave them the opportunity to create and present Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, which is about begin its 13th series.In 2002, a year after Saturday Night Takeaway's debut, the boys joined I'm a Celebrity and have become huge parts of the show.
5 of 8Ant & Dec: Britain's Got Talent
Establishing themselves as the busiest presenters in the country, Ant & Dec signed up for Britain's Got Talent in 2006 – and a year later signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, which was thought to be worth £40 million.They have been hosting the show ever since, and are currently filming for the twelfth series of the show.
6 of 8Ant & Dec: Awards
Among their numerous gongs, Ant & Dec have received the National Television Award for Most Popular Entertainment/TV Presenter for 15 years running. Most recently, at the 2018 NTAs, the duo won Best Presenter.
7 of 8Ant & Dec: Friendship
Ant previously revealed his friendship with Dec started in 1990, when he sent him a Christmas card and invited him to a football match.He said: "And that was that. It just happened immediately. We clicked. We'd spend all day making each other laugh and annoying everyone and quoting Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer lines to each other."When their parts were written out of Byker Grove, the boys vowed to stick together. Dec told Weekend magazine: "We made a pact. We said to each other, 'Look, whatever happens, I'll always be there for you and you're never in this life on your own or against the world – you've always got a mate looking out for you."Even though they work together, Ant & Dec make sure they go out together at least once a week – and even live three doors apart in London!Dec said: "It's our choice to socialise outside work. And we both get to go to work with our best mate every day. And that keeps our feet on the ground."Ant added: "We love each other, definitely."
8 of 8Ant & Dec: Relationships
In 2015 Dec married his longtime manager Ali Astall and Ant was, of course, best man. And in July 2006, Dec acted as best man at Ant's wedding to make-up artist Lisa Armstrong. Ant and Lisa, however, filed for divorce this month after 11 years of marriage.
“Lisa has been planning a girls’ trip with her best friends and family in a bid to cheer herself up and take her mind off everything that’s been going on,” says an insider close to Lisa, 43, who’s been busy on Instagram recently, posting snaps of herself enjoying the sunshine in her garden.
“She had wanted to do something this summer, but obviously it’s more likely to be later in the year now. Just planning it is giving her something to look forward to, though. Being in quarantine and having her divorce finalised has been difficult and she’s been so grateful for the support her friends and family have shown her. She wants to move on and thinks a nice holiday is the perfect tonic. She is always preparing herself for an engagement announcement from Ant now, so she wants something to look forward to.”
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As heat has told you, Lisa has struggled at times to come to terms with the breakdown of her 11-year marriage, which Ant announced had ended in January 2018, following a stint in rehab for drink and drug addiction.
Soon afterwards, he got together with their former PA Anne-Marie Corbett. Lisa frequently made her unhappiness known via social media, especially when Ant did gushing interviews about Anne-Marie and their new life together with her two daughters. And now he is officially divorced, insiders say it won’t be long before he proposes and Lisa can’t help but think what her life could be like if they were still together.
“This has been especially hard for Lisa, because she does sometimes wonder what lockdown would have been like with Ant,” says our source. “This is a major life event for everyone, and it’s natural to think of those nearest to you, so of course she’s felt lonely at times. This holiday is just the thing she needs to cheer herself up.”
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