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Ant McPartlin ‘facing Christmas alone’

Presenter reportedly won't return to marital home after Oz

It’s going to be lonely this Christmas for Ant McPartlin, according to reports.

After returning from Australia when his job co-hosting I’m A Celebrity finishes, he might not move back in with his wife, Lisa Armstrong.

A source told The Sun that the presenter and his wife of 11 years could still need time apart as he tries to overcome his addiction to prescription painkillers.

The source said: “He and Lisa have not yet decided if they will spend Christmas together.

“Ant is focused on recovery and thinks it best he doesn’t move home for a while.”

Ant went into rehab over the summer after admitting he had a problem with prescription drugs which he needed to take for a knee injury.

The papers reported he had moved out of his marital home and into a rental property after his time in rehab, and it is believed he could spend Christmas there without Lisa.

“This has been a difficult time and, while both want to make things work, they are struggling to find a way to move forward together,” The Sun’s source said of the couple.

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But former Deuce singer Lisa, who met Ant thanks to her Nineties pop career, has previously slammed reports she and her husband are estranged.

She spoke out on Twitter after viewers criticised her for not heading down under with Ant while he works on I’m A Celeb.

As head of hair and make-up on Strictly Come Dancing, Lisa pointed out she couldn’t leave her own job to be by her husband’s side in Australia.

The 41-year-old previously publicly displayed her support for her husband when news of his addiction first broke, telling fans: “Completely overwhelmed by all your love and support, it means so much. I’m relieved he’s receiving the help he needs. We just need him better.”

There were fears Ant, 42, wouldn’t be able to work on I’m A Celeb this year because of his problems so fans were delighted he could join Dec in the jungle as usual, where he has been on top form.

The pair have even joked on screen about his time in rehab and they have been inundated with tweets from viewers loving their work.

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The source told The Sun: “Ant’s been bolstered by I’m a Celeb’s viewing figures, which seem to show the public still support him.”

Meanwhile, they added Lisa’s job has been keeping her busy in her husband’s absence, while her pals have also “proved a good distraction”.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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