Ant McPartlin has revealed he is divorcing his wife of 11 years, Lisa McPartlin.
In a statement released to The Sun on Sunday, Ant’s spokesman said: ‘In response to the recent speculation in the media, Ant is very sad to announce that, after 11 years, he is ending his marriage to Lisa McPartlin.
‘Ant asks for privacy at this difficult time, for both himself, Lisa and their immediate families. No further statement will be made.’
Ant McPartlin has reportedly held ’emotional crisis talks’ with wife Lisa Armstrong, amid claims he wants to ‘officially announce’ their split.
The I’m A Celebrity presenter, 42, allegedly feels there’s ‘no way back’ for their 11-year marriage – something that Lisa is said to be ‘struggling to accept’.
The make-up artist thought talking things out with her husband could help smooth out their issues but is ‘gradually realising’ that it’s over, sources claimed.
Turbulent times: Ant McPartlin has reportedly held emotional crisis talks with wife Lisa Armstrong, amid claims he wants to ‘officially announce’ their split (pictured in 2015)
Ant, who lives in a rented home in London reportedly met up with his ‘estranged’ wife Lisa last week to hash things out.
‘It was obviously very emotional for both of them,’ a source told The Sun.
‘Lisa has struggled to accept that this is the end of the road.She thought at first that talking things through might help them resolve things.
‘But she is gradually realising that as far as he is concerned, there’s no way back.’
MailOnline has contacted Ant’s representatives for comment.
Ant has reportedly been living apart from partner Lisa, having moved out of the £6million property they share last year following his stint in rehab for an addiction to super-strong painkillers.
Oh dear: The I’m A Celebrity presenter, 42, allegedly feels there’s ‘no way back’ for their 11-year marriage – something that Lisa is said to be ‘struggling to accept’
He had spent the last two months filming Down Under for ITV reality show I’m A Celebrity, but make-up artist Lisa was unable to join him overseas, owing to her commitments to BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.
At the time, Lisa dismissed claims that this made her ‘estranged’ from husband Ant, explaining that she had not been out to Australia with him for 10 years.
However, a contradicting source told the Sunday Mirror that Lisa reportedly felt more ‘independent, happier and stronger’ while Ant was in Oz.
A source told the publication: ‘Ant has had a dreadful year, but Lisa has been through hell too.
‘The intense pressure of the situation has left her emotionally drained and was really taking its toll. Back in October she was terribly stressed and worried and seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.’
End of the road? The make-up artist thought talking things out with her husband could help smooth out their issues but is ‘gradually realising’ that it’s over, sources claimed (seen in 2016)
It was continued: ‘It was clear those close to her she was heartbroken. But it’s been so much happier since they’ve been living apart – especially when he flew to Australia to film I’m A Celebrity.’
It comes as reports surfaced on New Year’s Eve alleging that the TV star wants to divorce Lisa.
While Lisa has made no official comment on the claims, she had posted a telling meme in the early hours of January 1st that appeared to speak volumes – it showed a cartoon version of herself holding a bag of rubbish.
In the image, the caricature is seen holding out the steaming bin bag of trash which exudes a green gas, drips with toxic-looking fluid and is swarmed by flies.
On the bag it simply says ‘2017’ in the same radioactive-looking green that seeps from the bottom of the bag, and ‘Lisa’ holds her nose.
Out with the old! Lisa likened 2017 to a steaming bag of garbage as she posted a telling meme to Twitter on New Year’s Eve amid the couple’s marital woes
This post follows the news that Ant has reportedly told Lisa that he wants a divorce, despite her allegedly ‘clinging on to hope that they can work things out’.
Insiders tell The Sun, the presenter is preparing to end his marriage having not been been pictured with his wife of 11 years in four months and is seeing in the New Year with his mum Christine and sister Sarah.
It was claimed that Ant, who checked into rehab for prescription painkiller addiction over the summer, has asked Lisa for the split but that she would not agree to putting out an official statement.
The insider added that the pair were both ‘devastated’ but are still on friendly terms, and that no-one else is involved in the split.
Separate lives? Ant reportedly moved out of the £6million property he shared with Lisa last year and has been living in a rented home in London since he returned from presenting I’m A Celebrity (pictured)