Ant McPartlin leaves home to spend Christmas in Newcastle

A downcast Ant McPartlin was spotted heading to his home town of Newcastle for Christmas on Friday – without his wife Lisa Armstrong.

The TV presenter, 42, cut a glum figure as he left his London home, where he had met up with his partner of more than twenty years, for the airport. 

While Ant headed back home, Lisa, 41, was seen running errands in the capital without her wedding ring – amid claims the pair are set to spend Christmas apart, while they ‘make a decision about their future as a couple’.

Apart: Lisa, 41, was seen running errands in the capital – amid claims the pair are set to spend Christmas apart

Ant looked decidedly glum as he left his home in London for the airport, where he was flying to Newcastle to see his family.

The I’m A Celeb host kept casual for his journey in a blue rain jacket and jeans, teamed with sports trainers and a grey baker boy cap.

After a busy month in Australia filming the ITV show, the presenter cut a fatigued figure as he got into a taxi outside his home and headed home for the festive season. 

Homeward bound: The TV presenter, 42, cut a glum figure as he left his London home, where he had met up with his partner of more than twenty years, for the airport

Off he goes: Ant looked decidedly glum as he left his home to fly to Newcastle, for Christmas with his family

Low key: The I’m A Celeb host kept casual for his journey in a blue rain jacket and jeans

Finishing touches: He teamed the look with sports trainers and a grey baker boy cap

Tired: After a busy month in Australia filming the ITV show, the presenter cut a fatigued figure

Time to travel: He was seen getting into a taxi outside his home 

However amid claims his marriage is on the rocks, his wife Lisa was later seen running errands in London – having not joined her husband in his home town.

The former Deuce singer was equally low-key in a black padded jacket, complete with faux-fur hood, and matching tracksuit bottoms.

Adding cosy Ugg boots and opting to go make-up free, Lisa proved to be comfortable and relaxed as she completed last minute chores before Christmas – without her wedding ring.  

Stepping out: However amid claims his marriage is on the rocks, his wife Lisa was later seen running errands in London

Distant: Lisa was seemingly not joining Ant in Newcastle for Christmas

Casual: The former Deuce singer was equally low-key in a black padded jacket, complete with faux-fur hood

Relaxed: She swept her hair into a loose bun 

Fresh faced: Opting to go make-up free, Lisa proved to be comfortable as she completed last minute chores before Christmas

In pictures obtained by The Sun later that day, Ant was later seen touching down at Newcastle Airport, and dragging a suitcase through the Arrivals terminal.

A source close to him said: ‘[Ant] knows he and Lisa have to make a decision about their future. Ant doesn’t feel there is any future in the marriage, and while Lisa is hoping there’s a chance they can turn things around, he doesn’t see how they can.

‘He cares for her desperately, but just can’t see a way back. So he felt it was best he spent Christmas up North with his mum and gave them both some space to think ahead of the New Year.

Lounging around: She also stepped out in tracksuit bottoms and cosy Ugg boots

Tough time: Lisa also stepped out without her wedding ring, amid claims she and Ant have been enduring trouble in their marriage

Last minute: The make-up artists was seen posting a number of parcels ahead of the festive season

Apart: The pair are believed to be spending Christmas apart, with a source claiming: ‘Ant knows he and Lisa have to make a decision about their future’

‘He’s now looking forward to a family Christmas and trying to put a brave face on things.’ 

MailOnline has approached Ant’s rep for comment. 

The couple have reportedly been living apart – with Ant moving out of their £6m property earlier this year to attend rehab for an addiction to super-strong painkillers.  

Ant was seen to have wrapped himself up in a black winter coat, jeans and a flat cap and was seen looking fraught as he took a phone call on a bench outside the terminal.

At a loss: The insider continued: ‘Ant doesn’t feel there is any future in the marriage, and while Lisa is hoping there’s a chance they can turn things around, he doesn’t see how they can’

Staying strong: The insider added of Ant, who was seen at Newcastle Airport later that day: ”He’s now looking forward to a family Christmas and trying to put a brave face on things’

He was seen smoking a cigarette as he waited to be collected from the airport. 

The sighting comes after rumours he would indeed be spending Christmas with his wife, ‘even if it is their last’.

According to sources close to Ant, he was keen to spend another festive season with his wife of eleven years. The source told Heat magazine: ‘She’s said they will see each other over Christmas.

‘Lisa would rather stay friendly than be resentful. She doesn’t want to ruin what they had – this isn’t a blame game.

‘Ant wants to spend this Christmas with Lisa as her husband – even if this could be the last time.’

Stand by your man: Ant’s outing came after his wife Lisa Armstrong defended their union, when a Twitter troll accused her of ‘throwing away her marriage’ [pictured in 2007]

Biting back: Lisa responded to a Twitter user who told her to ‘understand’ the addiction to pain medication that husband Ant was battling earlier this year

On Tuesday, the former Byker Grove actor was seen walking his pet pooch Hurley, puffing on a cigarette.

However, the I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! host’s outing came after his wife defended their union, when a Twitter troll accused her of ‘throwing away her marriage’.

The Strictly Come Dancing make-up artist told a social media user to ‘get their facts right’ when they reportedly begged her to understand Ant’s recovery from an addiction to pain medication.

Lisa entered into the Twitter spat on Sunday amid claims husband Ant had moved into a rented home during the Christmas period.   

 ‘We’re not estranged’: Lisa (here in 2001) broke her silence about the split when she said she was not estranged from husband of 11 years Ant

A post on Lisa’s Twitter account read: ‘Educate yourself first love and get your facts rights. You don’t know!! Sorry for your pain x’ 

According to the Daily Star, she was replying to a user who wrote: ‘Can’t believe your throwing your marriage away after all them years. (sic)

‘I’ve been addicted to codeine and unless you have been there you wouldn’t understand waking up in morning kidneys hurting for the habit to be fed educate yourself about it first @LisaAmakeup.’ 

Last month Lisa finally broke her silence on reports of the marital woes. She took to Twitter to hit back at the long-running reports that the duo have separated, as she penned on the microblogging site: ‘I’m not estranged thank you’.

Have they/haven’t they? The couple have reportedly been living apart, with Ant moving out of their £6m property earlier this year to attend rehab for an addiction to super-strong painkillers [pictured in 2002]

She added that she hadn’t been to Australia for 10 years so it wasn’t a surprise that she hadn’t joined Ant in the jungle during his stint on I’m A Celebrity.

Instead, she stayed in the UK for her work with BBC One’s Strictly and Ant returned to England from Australia last week, but it’s claimed that he did not return to their marital home.

The television presenter was seen moving a mattress into a bachelor pad over the weekend, while his pal Declan Donnelly returned his beloved dog Hurley.

Ant has reportedly been living away from Lisa since he returned from Oz, renting a house a few streets away.