Ant McPartlin’s ex Lisa Armstrong has vowed to fight for custody of their pet Labrador as the fallout of their messy break-up continues to spill after the birth of his first son.
The Saturday Night Takeaway star split from Lisa in 2018 after 11 years of marriage and went on to marry his former personal assistant, Anne-Marie Corbett, in 2021.
This week Ant, 48, announced he and 46-year-old Anne-Marie had welcomed son Wilder Patrick McPartlin into the world – and the news is said to have shattered Lisa, who remains childless at 47 following her acrimonious divorce from the presenter.
Ant shared a Instagram snap sweetly cradling his baby boy, revealing he’d been born earlier that day on Tuesday, writing: ‘Born, 14/05/24 at 8.54am. Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess!’
Since the split, Lisa has had one constant source of support by her side – loyal Labrador Hurley. She shares joint custody of the beloved canine with Ant but reports say she wants sole possession of him – something he is said to have resisted.
Hurley was adopted by the former couple in 2013 after they struggled to conceive a child together
They now share custody of Hurley – seen here with Ant, wife Anne-Marie Corbett and their m
Lisa regularly shares pictures of herself with Hurley on Instagram, where she refers to him as ‘Mama’s baby boy’
The former couple reportedly agreed to take it in turns to look after Hurley (Ant is pictured with the dog in 2017)
Ant pictured with Anne-Marie at Wimbledon in 2021. The couple got together in 2018 after he divorced Lisa
Britain’s Got Talent star Ant announced the arrival of his first child with wife Anne-Marie on Tuesday – alongside a family tree tattoo on his shoulder
Ant revealed the name in his social media post, writing: ‘Welcome to the family Wilder Patrick Mcpartlin’
But she has reportedly vowed to fight on for sole custody of the chocolate Labrador, who regularly features in her Instagram posts, where she refers to him as ‘Mama’s baby boy’.
Ant – known best as one half of presenting duo Ant and Dec alongside Declan Donnelly – and Lisa adopted Hurley in 2013 following struggles to have a child of their own.
Ant is said to have refused to surrender full custody of Hurley to his ex during their reported £31million divorce battle, reportedly telling lawyers: ‘She can have anything she wants – except the dog.’
But observers have pointed out that Hurley is absent from the new ‘family tree’ tattoo he has on his left shoulder.
The new ink, which he revealed in the Instagram post announcing Wilder’s birth, bears his son’s same as well as those of step-children Poppy and Daisy and Anne-Marie, sweetly referred to as ‘Amzie’.
Ant even had room on his growing tree for Milo and Bumble, the Maltese-poodle cross ‘maltipoo’ dogs he shares with Anne-Marie – leaving fans at a loss to explain why Hurley was not given the same honour.
Anne-Marie was said to have expressed a wish to care for the Lab full-time in February – and friends close to the make-up artist say that desire is stronger than ever following the birth of Ant’s first-born.
‘She felt very betrayed by both Ant and Anne-Marie and felt that none of this has been handled sensitively, especially the announcement of the baby,’ sources have told The Sun.
‘The one thing that has got her through it and been by her side constantly is Hurley – she doesn’t know what she would do without him. He’s more than just a dog to her and has been a lifeline at times.’
They added: ‘Ant obviously loves Hurley as well but he now has a lot of other responsibilities and things going on in his life and Lisa can’t see why she can’t have full custody of him. She needs Hurley by her side.’
The former couple reportedly agreed to take it in turns to look after Hurley, with the arrangement seeing Ant’s chauffeur ferrying the dog between them so they did not have to see each other.
Ant has made Declan Donnelly the godfather to his newborn son and told his friends that he is ‘beyond thrilled’ to be a dad, according to a new report
Ant McPartlin and Lisa Armstrong pictured together at the National Television Awards in 2017
Ant will now not return to work until May 27 when the BGT live semis begin as he takes some paternity leave alongside Anne-Marie (pictured on April 17)
But the news of Wilder’s birth is said to have hit Lisa hard – particularly after she spent years supporting Ant during a tumultuous period that saw him battle a prescription drug addiction and a drinking problem.
His struggles with alcohol only became public in March 2018 – two months after he and Lisa divorced – when he was involved in a car crash and charged with drink-driving, for which he was fined £86,000.
He checked into rehab again and voluntarily disappeared from TV screens for months following talks with his presenting partner and ITV bosses.
After revealing he has become a dad Ant was soon flooded with messages from pals including Jamie Redknapp, Davina McCall and Alesha Dixon, who were delighted to see the star finally become a father.
He had previously given interviews while still with Lisa about his desire to have children but it never came to pass.
Ant told Radio Times in 2013: ‘There’s a rumour that I’m holding off having kids till (co-host Declan Donnelly) 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.’
Dec is now happily married to wife Ali Astall with whom he shares daughter Isla, five, and one-year-old son Jack.
Ant and Dec hit the pause button on weekend primetime fixture Saturday Night Takeaway after the 20th series, which finished airing last month, in order to spend more time with their families.
The Geordie duo said the milestone achievement was the ‘perfect time to pause for a little while and catch our breath’.
Lisa, who split from new beau James Green last year after three years, is said to be in Portugal on holiday this week, after sharing a cryptic post on Instagram about going through ‘silent battles’.
It featured a motivational quote meme reading: ‘Be proud of how you’ve been handling these last few months.
‘The silent battles you’ve fought, the moments you had to humble yourself, the times you’ve wiped your own tears. Celebrate your strength.’
MailOnline has contacted Ant’s representatives for comment.
