Ant McPartlin's romance with Anne-Marie from controversial start to Lisa snub
Ant McPartlin and Annie-Marie Corbett are preparing to welcome in the new year overseas, with the happy couple recently spotted jetting off on a plane following Christmas celebrations in the U.K.
The pair, who tied the knot in August 2021, were spotted at Heathrow Airport as they prepared to fly off to Dubai where they will be ringing in the New Year in style together.
Ant, 48, and his wife, 45, are swapping the strong winds of the UK for the blistering heat of Dubai, UAE. The duo spent quite some time apart after Ant and his TV partner Declan Donnelly spent weeks in Australia filming this year's edition of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
As the loved-up pair prepare to welcome 2024 together, we take a look back at their love story and the dramatic start their relationship had before they become husband and wife two years ago.
Controversial start
The start of Ant and Anne-Marie's relationship wasn't exactly fairytale romance material, with the couple hit with claims of betrayal as Ant publicly battled addiction issues alongside navigating a new partnership. When Ant first went into rehab in 2017, he apologised to his then-wife Lisa Armstrong for 'putting her through hell'.
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But after another stint in rehab following a drink-drive crash in 2018, it was Anne-Marie, their former personal assistant turned lover, who he leaned on. Rumours of romance between Ant and Anne-Marie started swirling in June 2018, six months after he announced his split from Lisa.
Ant and Anne-Marie's romance started shortly after the TV presenter announced the end of his marriageLisa was furious, claiming she found out about it through the media and tweeted, "Yeah My Friend and OUR Pa who I let into OUR home??" Ant and Lisa had been friends with Anne-Marie and her husband Scott, even attending the christening of their daughter in 2009.
Anne-Marie had organised Ant and Lisa's 10th wedding anniversary party in 2016. However, things turned sour when Anne-Marie became 'house manager' for Ant and his TV partner Declan Donnelly in 2012. Lisa later accused Anne-Marie of 'breaking the girl code' by dating her ex, a claim that Ant dismissed as 'absolute rubbish'.
Ant opened up about his relationship with Anne, saying: "I don't feel the need to defend Anne-Marie but I will say you've got to be careful judging other people's relationships or what you think is the truth that's been put out there," as he spoke to The Sun. Friends close to Ant stressed that Anne-Marie played no role in his split from his ex-wife Lisa, and likewise, Ant wasn't involved in the end of Anne-Marie's previous marriage.
People close to the situation said that Ant and Anne-Marie only became close after Ant went back into rehab in March 2018 following a drink driving charge. Anne-Marie had been seen supporting Ant, even making him a packed lunch for work some days, and she was right by his side during his police station visit and court appearance.
Ant and his ex-wife with Dec and his ex-girlfriend Claire Buckfield in April 2002 (Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)Brutal Lisa Armstrong snub
By January 2019, one year on from announcing his split from his ex-wife, Ant couldn't stop publicly gushing over and praising his new partner - but seemingly took several swipes at his former spouse when crediting Anne-Marie with helping him overcome drug and alcohol addictions.
After a ten-month break from the limelight to recover from rehab and a dramatic divorce from ex-wife Lisa, Ant decided to share details of his new romance in a telling interview - claiming to be "in the best place I've been in my life" as he spoke with The Sun about the last few years of his life.
Many of Ant's critics found the TV presenters comments to be dismissive in the role his ex of 23 years Lisa played in his recovery, with the I'm A Celebrity presenter telling the publication: "She's [Anne-Marie] 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."
Ant continued to dismiss rumours he was unfaithful to his ex-wife, claiming: "We've worked together for many years. But something changed. She was single, I was single. We weren't even looking for anybody else."
Wedding day
Ant and Anne-Marie tied the knot in 2021 (Beretta/Sims/REX/Shutterstock)Ant walked down the aisle for a second time in August 2021, when he exchanged vows with Anne-Marie and married in a stunning historic church in the sleepy Hampshire village of Heckfield. The couple had been considering hosting their special day abroad, but coronavirus restrictions but an end to their dream wedding plans.
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The newlyweds posed for photos outside St Michael's Church in Heckfield on 7 August, looking very much in love. They even shared a sweet kiss for the cameras. Anne-Marie looked beautiful in her white wedding dress, carrying a bouquet of purple and white flowers.
Ant looked smart in black tie, with best man Dec matching him as they stood in their usual TV positions for pictures. Guests included Frank Lampard and wife Christine, Cat Deeley and husband Patrick Kielty, Dermot O'Leary and partner Dee Koppang, and Alesha Dixon with her partner.
Guests were kept in the dark about where the wedding would be until the big day arrived, as the couple wanted to keep their ceremony spot a secret. After a lovely Church of England service, the wedding party all moved on to Heckfield Place for a party in a big tent.
Rev'd Canon Dr Marion de Quidt, who led the wedding, was really happy to be part of it. Speaking ahead of the service, she told the Daily Star: "I'm looking forward to sharing in their joy, and I'm looking forward to the blessings for their future. That's all I can say right now, but God bless, it's going to be a wonderful time."
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