LISA Armstrong has fled to Portugal hours after ex-husband Ant McPartlin welcomed his first child, according to reports.
The 47-year-old, who divorced Ant in 2018, is said to be ‘heartbroken’ by her ex’s baby joy.
A source told the Mail: “Lisa has jetted off to Portugal to getaway, no doubt to escape the buzz around Ant’s news.”
Ant’s wife Anne-Marie Corbett, 46, gave birth to their baby, Wilder Patrick McPartlin, at the London Clinic – the same hospital where the King and Princess of Wales received treatment for cancer.
Insiders said Ant has made his best pal Declan Donnelly his son’s godfather, returning the favour after Dec made him the godparent to his and Ali Astall’s two children, Isla and Jack.
Ant announced the baby’s birth by writing on Instagram: “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!”
Last night Lisa posted a message on social media about facing “silent battles”.
The quote she shared read: “Be proud about how you’ve been handling these past 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.”
While a friend of Lisa has spoken at how she is struggling to process the news after being ‘broken’ by their split after 23 years together.
However, the makeup artist, who recently placed the five-bed mansion she once shared with Ant on the market, has indicated that the former couple’s issues are now water under the bridge.
She is said to have celebrated Ant and his best pal co-star Declan Donnelly’s TV achievements when they said farewell to Saturday Night Takeaway last month.
A source told OK! magazine: “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 (for SNT).
“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.”
Since he started a relationship with Anne-Marie, Ant has become a devoted step-dad to her children Daisy and Poppy, and even has their names tattooed on his arm.
He revealed the family tree inking, which also features his nickname for Anne-Marie – Amzie, for the first time in his snap with baby Wilder.
Ant and Anne-Marie got together in 2018 following his split from Strictly Come Dancing makeup artist Lisa.
FOR a man whose life has played out so widely on TV – not to mention newspapers, magazines and social media – Ant McPartlin managed to keep one thing quiet: the huge family tree tattoo on his left shoulder.
Unveiling it on Instagram for the first time yesterday – to announce the birth of his newborn son, Wilder – those who know Ant say it reveals all you need to know about the chap.
That behind the TV make-up, celebrity, bulging bank accounts and endless accolades, he is a devoted family man. Family, for Ant, has always come before fame.
Unable to have children for years, he’d have traded any NTA in the world for a world of nappy-changing.
Finally, after years of yearning, there’s a new sidekick in town – and it’s not Declan Donnelly.
Ant’s second wife, Anne-Marie, and the names of the couple’s two daughters from her first marriage, are pride of place in the newly unveiled inking. As are the couple’s two dogs, Milo and Bumble.
With the birth of his first son, Ant’s family tree is now complete.
