KATIE HIND: Ant is a dad eventually… however his ex-wife might be distraught

Nestled against his left arm is Ant McPartlin‘s dream come true.

After so many years of longing to be a father, the Geordie television presenter yesterday announced the birth of his baby boy, Wilder Patrick McPartlin, at the age of 48.

The star posted a picture of himself snuggling the newborn on the joint Instagram account he shares with sidekick Declan Donnelly, writing alongside it: ‘Welcome to the family.’

Mr McPartlin went on: ‘Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess!’

He added that the youngster was born at 8.54am on Tuesday.

Little Wilder is described by friends as the ‘perfect last piece of the jigsaw’ after he married his former personal assistant Anne-Marie Corbett, 46, three years ago.

Already a doting step-father to Ms Corbett’s daughters Poppy and Daisy, they had wanted to add to the family for some years. But friends of Mr McPartlin said it was ‘something he feared would never happen’ after years of trying to conceive with his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong.

One told the Mail: ‘Ant is over the moon. He has fame and a huge fortune but what was missing was being a daddy.

‘He loves kids and has for many years wanted his own. Now his life feels very much complete.

‘Ant is that cheeky chappy on the television but it has felt like there was something missing. Wilder is his dream come true. He has been smiling from ear to ear for months, looking forward to meeting the baby. He is just beyond happy and very, very excited.’

The Mail can reveal that Mr McPartlin has been gleefully telling his friends for some months that he is to become a father.

And yesterday the great and the good of the television industry welcomed Wilder to the world.

Mr McPartlin’s BGT co-star Alesha Dixon posted on social media to congratulate the couple, as did Jamie Redknapp and Davina McCall.

Mr Donnelly is also said to be ‘thrilled’ for his best friend, who he has watched yearn to be a father. The star himself is the proud parent, with wife Ali Astall, of Isla, five, and Jack, one.

‘So many people couldn’t be happier for them,’ said another showbusiness insider.

After all, it has been quite a journey to parenthood for the Britain’s Got Talent presenter.

Mr McPartlin was always open about his desire to be a father. Speaking in 2013 he revealed his and Lisa’s struggles, saying: ‘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. 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.’

Those who know Ms Armstrong, who earlier this week was revealed to have put the home she shared with Mr McPartlin up for sale for £4million, say she will be ‘deeply sad’ to have to see her ex-husband share his happy news with the world.

She is said to have refused to believe it when she first saw pictures of Ms Corbett showing a bump in the Daily Mail, back in December. It was the baby she had longed to have with Mr McPartlin and friends say she feels ‘very wronged’ by him after she battled to save him from his demons for some years.

Ms Armstrong – a hugely successful make-up artist on Strictly Come Dancing – is likely to be further distraught by the tattoo on Mr McPartlin’s left shoulder which he showed on his social media post to announce Wilder’s birth.

Within an intricate tree inking are dedications to Ms Corbett with a shortened version of her name, Amzie, written at the top.

Then there are the names of his step-daughters, Poppy and Daisy, as well as their pet dogs Milo and Bumble. Hurley, the chocolate Labrador he shares with his ex-wife, is not mentioned.

One of Ms Armstrong’s colleagues told the Mail: ‘Can you imagine having to see that if you’re Lisa?

‘It must literally have left her heartbroken. She tried so hard for their marriage, she tried so hard to save him and when they split she was left without a baby.

‘It is so very sad. It broke poor Lisa, she gave him 23 years of her life, practically all of her adult life. Then when Ant is to be a dad he didn’t even have the decency to tell her. She had to read about it in the Mail.

‘What makes it all the more traumatic is that she and Anne-Marie were friends.’

It isn’t yet known whether Wilder will be added to the tattoo but it is most likely he will.

After all, he is the final part of the love story for the pair, who first met when she was working for Mr McPartlin and Ms Armstrong as their personal assistant.

They began dating in late 2018, shortly after Ms Corbett split from husband Scott Corbett.

Mr McPartlin had himself split from Ms Armstrong in September 2018, after checking into rehab for addiction issues.

The ITV star credits Ms Corbett for getting him through his alcohol and prescription drug addictions following his drink-driving arrest.

In his groom’s speech at his wedding at Heckfield Place, Hampshire, he revealed that his new wife’s two daughters, Poppy and Daisy, refer to him as Dad.

Speaking in 2019, Mr McPartlin described Ms Corbett as a ‘lifesaver,’ saying: ‘She’s been my rock. She’s a beautiful soul. We’re very happy.

‘I’m in the best place I’ve been in my life, to be honest with you. It’s great.’