ANT McPartlin’s ex Lisa Armstrong has issued a dignified show of support to her former husband following his final Saturday Night Takeaway.
Ant and presenting pal Declan Donnelly, both 48, fought back tears as the last episode of the ITV game show played out last night.
It marked a whopping 20-year anniversary for the series, with Girls Aloud, Josie Gibson, Scarlett Moffatt, Ashley Roberts and Davina McCall among the host of famous faces showing up for the farewell episode.
Strictly Come Dancing make-up artist Lisa, who was married to Ant for 11 years, took to her page on X to “like” a message of support for the Geordie duo.
She placed a love heart by the message by Andy Collins which read: “After 20 years this amazing show is coming to a end it’s been a real joy & pleasure to have been there from the beginning, & in my 30 year career in showbiz I’ve worked with some brilliant people but these two are simply the best!
“Great friendships & memories made.”
Whole lot of history
Ant made the decision to end their marriage in December 2017.
Their relationship had been under pressure following his addiction to painkillers after knee surgery.
The couple’s marriage officially ended in October 2018 at the Central Family Court in London after Ant admitted adultery.
Lisa – who previously worked with Ant on BGT – took matters to the Royal Courts of Justice in a bid to get a share of the TV presenter’s £50million fortune and she was successful.
Ant settled his bitter legal battle with the cosmetics ace after a face-to-face meeting in January 2020.
The duo met at a pop concert at Newcastle City Hall in 1994, when she was performing with Deuce and he was performing with his best pal Declan in their band PJ & Duncan.
Through her relationship she was understandably closely linked with the pair, even working on Saturday Night Takeaway herself until she lost her role.
Fond farewell
Meanwhile, Ant and Dec got teary as they led a star-studded singalong at the end of the two-hour live finale of the much-loved ITV prime-time entertainment hit.
Emotional Declan told the audience: “We’ve truly adored every second . . . what’s happened is beyond our wildest dreams.”
Ant said: “This is the kind of show Dec and I watched every Saturday night growing up, so it’s been an honour and a privilege to have made this show and to have been part of your Saturday nights for over 20 years.”
Ant and Dec's incredible career
ANT McPartlin and Declan Donnelly met on the set of Byker Grove in 1990.
The two went on to have chart success under their characters’ names – including their 1994 No1 smash hit Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble.
They haven’t looked back since then, going on to present some of the most popular shows on TV.
Here’s a rundown of some of their most popular shows – plus one “dud”.
- The Ant & Dec Show – this late afternoon kids’ entertainment series ran from 1995-1996 for 17 episodes
- Ant & Dec Unzipped – the twosome jumped from ITV to Channel 4 for this children’s sketch show in 1997
- SM:TV Live– the duo teamed up with Cat Deeley in 1998 for Saturday morning mayhem including the classic Wonkey Donkey game
- Friends Like These – the Geordie pair hopped channels again, landing on BBC One to present this game show from 1999 until 2001
- Pop Idol– before The X Factor there was Pop Idol, which ran for two seasons in 2001 and 2002 and saw Michelle McManus and Will Young crowned the winners
- I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here – the reality TV show began in 2002, with Dec presenting all 23 seasons, even one without sidekick Ant as Holly Willoughby stepped up
- Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway – this show also began in 2002, but the lads said the 2024 offering would be their last
- PokerFace – Ant and Dec created this game show which aired from 2006-2007. with a top prize of £1million.
- Britain’s Got Talent – the TV series began in 2007 with the pair’s backstage antics loved by fans. They also took part in silly competitions on Stephen Mulhern‘s ITV spin-off Britain’s Got More Talent
- Red Or Black – the show only aired for two seasons in 2011 and 2012. It was one of the pair’s rare “flops” with Dec admitting “we got it wrong”
- Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win – the pair had another success on their hands when this show hit screens in 2022
Dec added: “When we started back in 2002, we thought we’d be lucky if we got to do this for a couple of years — what’s happened is beyond our wildest dreams.
“We’ve truly adored every second but there’s one thing we’ve never, ever forgotten and that’s the fact this isn’t our show — it’s your show.
“So we’d like to say a massive thank you to you, our incredible audience.”
Fans also told how they were left “genuinely heartbroken.”
Taking to X – formally known as Twitter – one viewer said: “So sad that’s the end of Saturday night takeaway!
“Our favourite show to watch as a family. Will miss it soooooo much! Please bring it back again soon, there is nothing like it!”
Another wrote: “I’m crying like a baby #SaturdayNightTakeaway.”
