A heartbroken Lisa Armstrong paid tribute to her dad earlier this week on the fifth anniversary of his death as her ex-husband Ant McPartlin welcomed his first child with his wife Anne-Marie Corbett.
Taking to Instagram, Lisa, 47, paid tribute to her dad Derek, also known as Degs, by posting a picture of his gravestone.
The moving words on her father’s grave read: ‘In loving memory of Dot Armstrong tragically taken on 26.6. 1992 and Derek John Armstrong sadly missed husband, Dad and Grampy forever in our hearts.’
She captioned the heartbreaking image with: ‘My Heart…5 years. #MyDegs #MyHero.’
Less than 24 hours after Lisa’s post, Ant, 48, announced his wife Anne-Marie, 46, had given birth to a son, Wilder Patrick McPartlin.
A heartbroken Lisa Armstrong paid tribute to her dad earlier this week on the fifth anniversary of his death as her ex-husband Ant McPartlin welcomed his first child with Anne-Marie Corbett
Lisa Armstrong paid tribute to her dad earlier this week as she grieved him on the fifth anniversary of his death – just days after her ex-husband Ant McPartlin (pictured) welcomed his first child
Taking to Instagram, Lisa, 47, paid tribute to her dad Derek, also known as Degs, by posting a picture of his gravestone
She captioned the heartbreaking image with: ‘My Heart…5 years. #MyDegs #MyHero.’
Lisa’s father Derek pictured. He passed away in May 2019 aged 71 after being diagnosed with cancer the year before
Lisa’s father Derek passed away in May 2019 aged 71 after being diagnosed with cancer the year before, with his health deteriorating in the months before he died.
The Strictly Come Dancing MUA was reportedly at Derek’s bedside at her family home, in Oxford with her mum Linda, according to The Sun.
Lisa was said to have kept her dad’s illness a secret for a year.
Lisa – who is the head makeup artist on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing – recently headed off to Portugal for a much-needed vacation.
A source told The Sun: ‘This is not an easy time for Lisa.
‘The holiday was planned, not because Ant had a baby, but because of the anniversary of her dad’s death.’
‘She and Ant tried to have children but it wasn’t to be, so they got Hurley, their chocolate brown Labrador.’
The source also revealed Hurley is her ‘baby’ now and she’s ‘moved on’ from Ant.
On Saturday, Ant set the record straight and addressed fans’ accusations that he ‘snubbed’ his dog Hurley in his new tattoo.
The presenter took to X to thank fans for their ‘kind messages’ after announcing the birth of his son Wilder on Tuesday.
Lisa was said to have kept her dad’s illness a secret for a year (pictured with her beloved parents)
Ant set the record straight and addressed fans’ accusations that he ‘snubbed’ his dog Hurley after revealing he’d welcomed his first child with his wife Anne-Marie (pictured in 2021)
The presenter took to X to address fans’ concerns and reassured them that Hurley was very much on the family tree tattoo, however, he was just covered by their newborn
In his post, Ant also addressed fans’ concerns that he’d ‘snubbed’ Hurley in a new tattoo paying tribute to his family after the dog’s name appeared to be absent from the design.
Ant wrote: ‘Hey all, I just wanted to say thank You so much for the kind messages of love and well wishes for our baby Wilder. He’s doing great.
‘Glad you loved the tattoo as well. For all you dog lovers who asked why my beloved Hurley wasn’t on the family tree..he was!! He was just covered by our newborn. All my love, gratitude and heartfelt thanks A.’
Ant then shared a snap showing the full tattoo on his shoulder, with Hurley’s name visible on the tree design.
It comes just hours after reports surfaced that Lisa has vowed to fight for custody of their pet Labrador as the fallout of their messy break-up continues to spill after the birth of his first son.
The Saturday Night Takeaway star split from Lisa in 2018 after 11 years of marriage and went on to marry his former personal assistant, Anne-Marie, in 2021.
This week Ant announced he and Anne-Marie had welcomed son Wilder into the world – and the news is said to have shattered Lisa, who remains childless at 47 following her acrimonious divorce from the presenter.
Ant shared an Instagram snap sweetly cradling his baby boy, revealing he’d been born earlier that day on Tuesday, writing: ‘Born, 14/05/24 at 8.54am. Baby is beautiful, Mummy’s a legend, Sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess!’
Since the split, Lisa has had one constant source of support by her side – loyal Labrador Hurley. She shares joint custody of the beloved canine with Ant but reports say she wants sole possession of him – something he is said to have resisted.
But she has reportedly vowed to fight on for sole custody of the chocolate Labrador, who regularly features in her Instagram posts, where she refers to him as ‘Mama’s baby boy’.
Ant – known best as one half of presenting duo Ant and Dec alongside Declan Donnelly – and Lisa adopted Hurley in 2013 following struggles to have a child of their own.
Ant is said to have refused to surrender full custody of Hurley to his ex during their reported £31million divorce battle, reportedly telling lawyers: ‘She can have anything she wants – except the dog.’
Ant then shared a snap showing the full tattoo on his shoulder, with Hurley’s name visible on the tree design
It comes just hours after reports surfaced that Lisa has vowed to fight for custody of their pet Labrador as the fallout of their messy break-up continues to spill after the birth of his first son
The arrangement led to the TV presenter’s chauffeur ferrying the dog between the two of them so they did not have to see each other.
Anne-Marie was said to have expressed a wish to care for the Lab full-time in February – and friends close to the make-up artist say that desire is stronger than ever following the birth of Ant’s firstborn.
‘She felt very betrayed by both Ant and Anne-Marie and felt that none of this has been handled sensitively, especially the announcement of the baby,’ sources have told The Sun.
‘The one thing that has got her through it and been by her side constantly is Hurley – she doesn’t know what she would do without him. He’s more than just a dog to her and has been a lifeline at times.’
They added: ‘Ant obviously loves Hurley as well but he now has a lot of other responsibilities and things going on in his life and Lisa can’t see why she can’t have full custody of him. She needs Hurley by her side.’
The former couple reportedly agreed to take it in turns to look after Hurley, with the arrangement seeing Ant’s chauffeur ferrying the dog between them so they did not have to see each other.
But the news of Wilder’s birth is said to have hit Lisa hard – particularly after she spent years supporting Ant during a tumultuous period that saw him battle a prescription drug addiction and a drinking problem.
His struggles with alcohol only became public in March 2018 – two months after he and Lisa divorced – when he was involved in a car crash and charged with drink-driving, for which he was fined £86,000.
The former couple reportedly agreed to take it in turns to look after Hurley (Ant is pictured with the dog in 2017)
He checked into rehab again and voluntarily disappeared from TV screens for months following talks with his presenting partner and ITV bosses.
After revealing he has become a dad Ant was soon flooded with messages from pals including Jamie Redknapp, Davina McCall and Alesha Dixon, who were delighted to see the star finally become a father.
He had previously given interviews while still with Lisa about his desire to have children but it never came to pass.
Ant told Radio Times in 2013: ‘There’s a rumour that I’m holding off having kids till (co-host Declan Donnelly) finds himself Mrs Right’.
‘I love that idea, but I’m afraid it’s not true. Lisa and I would love to have kids. We’re trying. It’s tougher than you think when you get a bit older.’
