How Lisa Armstrong is rebuilding her life after Ant left her ‘single and childless’. Insiders reveal ‘compelling timing’ of limelight return to KATIE HIND as her ex’s spouse and child be part of him for I’m A Celeb

All too recently, even the simple act of walking out of her front door was too terrifying to consider for Lisa Armstrong.

For many years after her high-profile split from the TV presenter Ant McPartlin in 2018, the make-up artist endured being followed by waiting paparazzi.

Added to this, of course, was her profound emotional devastation at the end of her 23-year long relationship, which made her reluctant to go out in public.

Keeping a safe distance from the outside world was something she preferred – especially as her ex moved on with a new wife, their former assistant Anne-Marie Corbett, 46, whom he wed in August 2021 and had a baby with earlier this year.

This latter event, in particular, was difficult for Lisa, who has no children despite yearning for them. Indeed, she admitted herself to me in February that it was all ‘heartbreaking’.

Mindful of preserving her mental state, rather than seeking attention or selling her story, Lisa took the decision to keep her head down and immerse herself in her work as a TV make-up artist – on Strictly among other shows – a role in which she is regarded as one of the best in the business.

Apart from the odd cryptic social media post, Lisa has resolutely kept to her vow that she would never speak about her split.

Now, though, it appears that Lisa, 48, has had enough of being the forgotten divorcee. On Wednesday evening, she stunned her fans when she stepped full square into the limelight for an appearance on the Strictly spin‑off It Takes Two.

There to reveal the secrets of the BBC1 dance show’s glam squad, Lisa, dressed in a black sequin jumpsuit and trendy white trainers, was notably glowing.

Her outfit was accessorised with a gold necklace with what appeared to be a dog’s paw on it – something which fans thought might be a tribute to her beloved chocolate labrador, Hurley, who she shares custody of with her ex-husband.

‘Before lights, camera, action, comes lips, glamour, complexion,’ announced It Takes Two host and former Strictly professional Janette Manrara. ‘She’s been on Strictly for 17 years and tonight make-up designer Lisa Armstrong is here to chat all things ballroom beauty.’

There was, perhaps predictably, no mention of Ant.

Instead a bubbly Lisa spoke excitedly for almost seven minutes about her job and how she is responsible for ‘all things glam.’

‘It’s like playing dress-up every week. It’s hard work. Inspirationally, creatively, it’s the best job,’ she enthused.

Next came a question-and-answer session where she dished out advice to fans about make-up as well as sharing the secrets of Strictly’s behind-the-scenes team.

If ever there was a sign that Lisa is rebuilding her life, this was it.

Last summer she put the west London home where she lived with Ant on the market; she’d kept it as part of her multi-million pound divorce settlement, and has lived there alone with Hurley.

It is not known whether the house has sold yet, but she appears eager to get rid of it. In August, just three months after she first put it up for sale, she lopped £250,000 off the asking price.

‘Lisa is free of the past,’ says an associate of the former singer. ‘She has been through so much heartache, but look how happy she looked on that [It Takes Two] sofa. It was like the weight of the world had been lifted off of her shoulders.’

I’m told the BBC have wanted Lisa to be onscreen for It Takes Two for some time because they believe viewers are fascinated at how Strictly stars are transformed for the ballroom floor.

‘Lisa loves her job at Strictly and that is her focus between September and December every year,’ says a source. ‘When Lisa goes to work she is Work Lisa.

‘Out of respect nobody mentions Ant and Anne-Marie. She doesn’t want to be the famous divorcee so she avoids the limelight at all costs.

‘[Through the split] Lisa just kept her head down and carried on with her work. So Strictly bosses were thrilled she would take part in the show. They would have her on every week if they could, but she just isn’t that person.’

With all that in mind, the timing is perhaps rather compelling. Because her ex is currently getting ready to once again travel Down Under where he will host the 24th series of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! – albeit with a new companion: his son, Wilder, who will turn six months old during his first trip to Australia.

I’m told Ant’s wife Anne-Marie – whom he married in a lavish wedding in Hampshire – has decided to join him this year. She missed the series last year because she was pregnant but was yet to make the news public.

ITV sources say having his wife and baby boy in Australia will be ‘joyous’ for Ant. For the past five years he has been limited to playing godfather to sidekick Declan Donnelly‘s children Isla, six, and Jack, two, while on presenting duties. Now, his own baby will join the I’m A Celeb brood.

‘It will be a case of all of Ant’s dreams coming true in one place,’ says a show insider.

‘Ant absolutely loves I’m A Celeb. He finds the whole show such a laugh and he really looks forward to it. In many ways it is the highlight of his year. But it’s a long stint and he likes to have his family around him.’

Anne-Marie and Wilder’s trip also means that they will be there for when Ant celebrates his 49th birthday on November 18.

But there is no getting away from the fact that for so many of the 22 years Ant has hosted I’m A Celeb, it was Lisa who was at his side.

There was, of course, much hope that at some point they would have taken their own little mini McPartlin to the jungle, but sadly it wasn’t to be.

The couple met in the mid-90s when Ant was part of pop duo PJ & Duncan and she was in a band called Deuce. Ant’s star rose, while Lisa’s band split and she began to quietly work on her make-up skills, while also being Ant’s sturdy support at home.

They married in 2006 in a lavish ceremony in Buckinghamshire where Dec was best man.

For years Lisa helped Ant as his drinking spiralled and he began to use prescription drugs. They also struggled to conceive – something Ant openly discussed.

In 2013, he addressed the rumour that he was waiting until Dec had met someone before he had children. Setting the record straight, he told Radio Times: ‘There’s a rumour that we do everything together and I’m holding off having kids till Dec finds himself Mrs Right.’

Despite admitting he ‘loved’ the idea, Ant confirmed it wasn’t true, admitting he had wanted children ‘for a while.’ He also confessed that he and Lisa had tried to start a family but faced fertility struggles. He said: ‘Lisa and I would love to have kids. We’re trying. It’s tougher than you think.’

After 11 years of marriage, Lisa was left heartbroken when they separated, leaving her single and childless in her early 40s.

Then came the sucker punch: Lisa learned that Ant was in a relationship with Anne-Marie, the couple’s former personal assistant and someone she had regarded as a friend.

To make matters worse, Lisa found out Anne-Marie was pregnant only after reading about it in the Mail.

For some time she was in denial. ‘Lisa finds it hurtful and heartbreaking that after everything he put her through, Ant didn’t give her the heads-up that he was going to be a dad,’ said a friend.

So while Anne-Marie, who has two teenage daughters from a previous marriage, will be packing up their south-west London home for the family trip, spare a thought for Lisa.

For those who know her point out that perhaps it would have been her making the trip had things turned out differently.

‘Lisa dedicated 23 years of her life to Ant,’ says a friend of hers. ‘She went through so much, she spent so many years trying to save Ant from himself and then found herself single and childless

‘Now, though, there is no more wallowing. Now she is back.’

But will she be one of the millions watching Ant from her sofa back in the UK?

‘No chance,’ says the pal.