Ant McPartlin’s ex Lisa Armstrong has posted a cryptic message on Instagram following the news of her former husband’s newborn baby. The 48 year old Geordie TV presenter and his wife Anne-Marie Corbett, who tied the knot last year, announced the birth of their first son on Instagram earlier this week.

In a touching black and white photo showing Ant holding their new son, the couple revealed their baby boy’s name in the caption: “Welcome to the family. Wilder Patrick Mcpartlin. Born, 14/05/24 at 8.54am. Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess.”

As congratulations from celebrity friends flood in for the Britain’s Got Talent star, his ex-wife Lisa, 47, has shared an intriguing post about enduring a “battle” on her Instagram stories. Her quote read: “Be proud of how you have been handling these past few months. The silent battles you’ve fought, the moments you’ve had to humble yourself, the times you’ve wiped your own tears. Celebrate your strength.”

Ant McPartlin’s ex Lisa Armstrong reflects on ‘battle’ as he welcomes first son -Credit:lisaarmstrongmakeup/Instagram
Ant and Lisa called it quits on their relationship six years ago, after being together for two decades. Their separation came to light shortly after Lisa stood by Ant during a difficult period in his career, which was marred by alcohol and prescription drug addiction, as well as a drink-driving conviction in 2018, reports Chronicle Live.

Despite their tumultuous history, it’s said that Lisa is looking for a fresh start, according to an insider who recently spoke to OK!

The source disclosed to the magazine: “Lisa knows Ant is ready to move on with the next chapter of his life – she doesn’t want to be angry anymore.”

“She’s done a lot of healing over the past few years and spent so much time being upset and angry about everything. It has been exhausting but she has done a lot of work on herself. It seems everyone is having a fresh start with the end of the show and Ant’s new chapter in his life, so Lisa wants to make sure she’s in a good place.”

It seems that Lisa and Ant are moving beyond their bitter split, as she recently showed support for him ahead of his and Declan Donnelly’s final Saturday Night Takeaway show. Lisa liked a social media post that hailed Ant and Dec as “simply the best” in their entertainment career.

She endorsed a tribute to Ant and Dec which said: “After 20 years this amazing show is coming to an end – it’s been a real joy and pleasure to have been there from the beginning, and in my 30-year career in showbiz I’ve worked with some brilliant people but these two are simply the best! Great friendships and memories made.”

A source close to Lisa believes the ‘like’ could be a sign of her readiness to offer support again. They said, “Lisa feels she played an important part in their success – she was there from the very start when Ant and Dec first had the idea. Seeing the show come to an end brought back lots of happy memories. It also made her realise that she and Ant were really happy and she now doesn’t want her marriage to him tarnished. Lisa loved him so much and now she just wants everyone to be happy, Ant included.”

TV presenter Ant and Lisa were married for 11 years after tying the knot in a church ceremony in 2006, with Declan Donnelly serving as best man. Their union ended abruptly in 2018 when Lisa, a skilled makeup artist, sought a divorce on the grounds that life with Ant had become unbearable, according to court papers.

In February 2009, 48-year-old star Ant dispelled rumours of his wife Lisa’s pregnancy, while discussing their plans to start a family. He noted: “We’ll have been married three years this summer – of course we want children. We definitely want to start a family – soon it will naturally happen.”

A year later in July 2010, Ant publicly revealed they were trying for a baby but work commitments had delayed their plans: “We’ve wanted children for a while, but we’re both busy. We’re on a break now, the first proper one for 15 years. So Lisa and I are trying for a baby…well, we’ve been trying for a little while so fingers crossed.”

During an emotional disclosure in 2013, Ant spoke candidly about their struggles to conceive. He admitted: “There’s a rumour that we do everything together and I’m holding off having kids till Dec finds himself Mrs Right. I love that idea, but I’m afraid it’s not true. Lisa and I would love to have kids. We’re trying. It’s tougher than you think when you get a bit older.”

In the meantime, his co-host Dec, aged 48, tied the knot with talent manager Ali Astall in 2015, later becoming parents to two children, Isla (born in 2018) and Jack (born in 2022).

After parting ways with Lisa, Ant found happiness with Anne-Marie Corbett, their former personal assistant, who he married in 2021.

Lisa rekindled romance in 2020 with James Green, two years after her split from Ant. However, following a romantic Caribbean getaway, they decided to part ways the previous year.