By anyone’s standards, Lisa Armstrong really has been through hell over the past few years. She supported ex-husband Ant McPartlin through a spell in rehab for drink and drug issues, before he announced that their 11-year marriage was over in January 2018 – something Lisa didn’t want. Months later, it was revealed he was seeing their former PA Anne-Marie Corbett. Their messy divorce took nearly two years, and was only just finalised last month.
And while we’re told Lisa is doing her best to move on, she’s made it clear she’s still struggling. Last week, the Strictly make-up artist made her feelings known by liking a series of tweets posted by the @Fact account that appeared to reflect her relationship with Ant.
“If someone sticks by your side through your worst times, they’re the ones who deserve to be with you through your best times,” one read, while another stated, “A person that truly loves you will never let you go, no matter how hard the situation is.”
A third one that also resonated with her said, “Falling in love is easy, staying in love is a challenge, letting go is hard, and moving on is the hardest.”
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1 of 4Fern Britton and Phil Vickery
ITV mainstays Fern Britton and Phil Vickery announced they were divorcing in January after 20 years of marriage. "After more than 20 happy years together, Phil and I have decided to go our separate ways," said Fern. "We will always share a great friendship and our lovely children."
2 of 4Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler
Hollywood couple Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler reportedly called it quits in January 2019 after dating since September 2011, with a source telling Us Weekly, "Vanessa and Austin are officially broken up, and Vanessa has been telling those close to her about their breakup."
3 of 4Ashley Roberts and Giovanni Pernice
After meeting on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2018, Giovanni Pernice and Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts announced their split in January 2020. "@IamAshleyRoberts and I have made the decision to separate as a couple. We remain friends and wish each other well for the future," Giovanni tweeted.
4 of 4Pamela Anderson and Jon Peters
They dated briefly in the late 80s, and in January 2020 Pamela Anderson and film producer Jon Peters tied the knot in a private Malibu ceremony. But in true Hollywood style, the couple divorced just 12 days later. Pamela said, "We would be very grateful for your support as we take some time apart to re-evaluate what we want from life and from one another."
And we’re told that even though Lisa, 43, is trying to stay positive, she’s struggling to move on. As heat has reported, Lisa is planning to sell the home she shared with Ant and move in with some close girlfriends. Our insider also tells us she has found her dog Hurley a real support, and now it’s been agreed she and Ant can share custody of him, she can start making more plans – but that doesn’t mean she can move on.
“Lisa is hurting and although the divorce has now gone through, that doesn’t make things any easier,” our source says. “She has days when she feels great and ready to start afresh, but then some days, she just gets so angry and frustrated with the way she has been treated. It doesn’t help that Ant is back on TV with Dec and getting massive ratings for Saturday Night Takeaway, and gushing about his new life with Anne-Marie and her daughters.
“She feels as if he’s got off too lightly for the way he’s treated her and that’s a feeling that doesn’t disappear. Lisa’s worried that she’ll never get over this anger and be able move on and find happiness herself. All she wants is to be able to make a fresh start and enjoy life to the full again.”
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In a recent interview, Ant, 43, described Anne-Marie – along with her two children – as the love of his life. In a previous interview, at the height of the divorce drama, he praised Anne-Marie for helping him get through his drink and drugs hell, calling her his “rock”. Lisa was said to be hurt by his claims – especially because they had been together over 20 years – and, we’re told, even Ant’s friends have said he needs to be more sensitive to Lisa’s feelings.
“Lisa is continuing to maintain a dignified silence, but it’s hurtful to hear Ant being so vocal about his new-found happiness,” says our insider. “Some of their mutual friends feel that he needs to cool it with the chat about his new life and love – they think he needs to show a bit of respect for Lisa. She’s not only lost her marriage, but also her job on Britain’s Got Talent [she was reportedly ‘sacked’ in the aftermath of their split].”
The insider continues, “Ant seems to forget that he and Lisa still have a lot of mutual friends, who all think that Lisa is a lovely girl, who’s had to put up with a lot. She was never that comfortable in the limelight, so to see her going through so many struggles in the public eye has made them feel a lot of sympathy for her. Some of them think Ant should stop talking about Anne-Marie in interviews and let the dust settle on the divorce for a few more months.”
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The insider adds that Ant feels he has been respectful and that he deserves to be happy, too. He has said he’s not trying to rub Lisa’s face in anything, but Anne-Marie is his life now. He wants her to know how important she is to him, and that he wouldn’t have got through everything without her.
But, we’re told, “Some of their other TV friends feel that Ant is pushing his comeback too hard and expecting the public to forget that Lisa ever existed. He’s had to do a lot of damage control on his public image after the drink-driving incident [he was fined £6,000 in 2018], but they don’t think the answer is to act like his marriage didn’t happen, which is how it seems to them. Ant gets frustrated, because he wants to move on with Anne-Marie and be able to say anything that will make her happy. In his mind, his life with Lisa ended years ago and she should have moved on like he has.
“He doesn’t quite grasp the fact that Lisa is still healing and is sensitive about what is being said publicly. She’s a tough woman, but she’s only human just like the rest of us.”
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