Month: February 2024

Ant McPartlin has become a regular face on TV screens alongside Declan Donnelly from the likes of Saturday Night Takeaway to I’m A Celebrity.

The former Byker Grove star recently revealed he is set to become a father for the first time, as he and wife Anne-Marie Corbett prepare to welcome their first child this summer.

His personal life has also grabbed headlines over the decades, from his marriage to first wife Lisa Armstrong and shock split, to finding love once more with assistant Anne-Marie.

And there have been darker times, from his tragic battles with alcohol and drug addiction to his shock drink-driving crash in 2018.

We take a look back at the TV presenter’s personal life, from his home life to his love life and everything inbetween.

Where is Ant McPartlin from?

Ant McPartlin was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, growing up in Fenham.

Speaking to The Chronicle in 2014 about his upbringing in the area, he said: ‘I had a happy childhood, growing up in Fenham in a cul-de-sac living opposite my nana and grandad, so that was great.’

He attended Wingrove Primary School and then Rutherford School. At the age of 13, he auditioned for a part in Newcastle-based drama Byker Grove, where he met long-time friend and co-star Dec.

Although they weren’t immediately fast friends, with Dec admitting he found Ant to be a ‘miserable g*t’.

He recalled in an old interview: ‘It wasn’t love at first sight. [But then] Ant sent me a Fred Flintstone Christmas card that first Christmas, and it said “Dear Dec, have a yabba dabba do Christmas”.

‘Then it said, “PS do you fancy going to the Newcastle v Swindon match?”

‘So that was our first date and we forged an amazing friendship from there and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”’

Who is his wife?

Ant married Anne-Marie Corbett in August 2021 after popping the question the previous December.

Ant and Anne-Marie, 46, have been together since 2018, but they first met in 2017when she worked for the TV star and his ex-wife, Lisa Armstrong.

Anne-Marie has been employed by the same London-based management company as Ali Astall, Dec’s wife, for more than a decade.

When Ant was arrested for drink driving in March 2018 – two months after announcing he and Lisa’s split – Anne-Marie accompanied him to the police station. The couple later confirmed their relationship in June that year.

Speaking to The Sun at the time, Ant said: ‘We were going through turmoil. It was the last thing on either of our minds to get into a relationship. But there we were like “This felt so good, why deny it”.’

They tied the knot in a village church in Hampshire in front of 100 friends including Holly Willoughby, Philip Schofield, Stephen Mulhern and Ant’s best man, Dec.

Is Ant having a baby?

Ant and Anne-Marie are expecting their first child in June, the TV presenter has confirmed.

The mum-to-be was seen out and about with an undeniable baby bump earlier this month, while Ant confirmed the news in an interview with Fault Magazine ahead of the 20th series of Saturday Night Takeaway.

He said: ‘Part of the reason we’re pausing Takeaway is we need a break ourselves, and we need to spend some time with our family.

He added: ‘We’ve both got children that we need to spend time with for a little bit.’

Anne-Marie also has two teenage daughters, Poppy and Daisy, from her previous marriage which ended in 2017.

In 2013 Ant opened up about wanting children with his wife at the time, Lisa.

He revealed to The Mirror: ‘There’s a rumour that I’m holding off having kids till Dec 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.’

Who is his ex-wife?

Ant was married to Strictly Come Dancing makeup artist Lisa Armstrong from 2006 until their split in 2018.

The pair met in the 1994 Smash Hits tour in Newcastle, where both Ant and Dec performed as well as Lisa’s pop band Deuce.

Ant proposed to Lisa in 2005 before they wed the following year in Taplow, Buckinghamshire.

The couple announced their split in January 2018, with a statement saying: ‘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.’

Their divorce was finalised in 2020.

Lisa wasn’t happy when their personal assistant Anne-Marie and the I’m A Celebrity host got together following their split.

She claimed Anne-Marie was her ‘friend’ and said she was blindsided by the relationship, only finding out about it in the papers.

Ant’s ex Lisa claimed that she found out about the relationship in the news, tweeting: ‘To think she was MY friend!’

Did Ant go to rehab for addiction issues?

Ant first checked into rehab in 2017 after revealing he had struggled with substance abuse, alcohol misuse and prescription drug addiction for over two years prior.

Ant’s prescription drug addiction came after he injured his knee in 2014 and was prescribed co-codamol and codeine. He was then put on the highly addictive opioid tramadol after a hole was found in his knee following an operation.

He told The Sun: ‘I didn’t think it was a problem then, but you just keep taking them. They’re very hard to come off. I was taking them more regularly, more regularly.’

Ant said he was also drinking too much and taking sleeping pills. He agreed to go to rehab following an intervention by Dec and his then-wife Lisa Armstrong.

Following an intervention from Dec and Lisa, Ant agreed to go to rehab, where he was discharged after two months.

His struggles came to a head after he was caught driving under the influence in March 2018 and smashed his car into two other vehicles in London, in which a young girl was hospitalised.

When tested after the accident, he was found to have a blood alcohol level twice over the legal limit and he was faced with an £86,000 fine and was banned from driving for 20 months.

Following the drink driving accident, he again Ant accepted help for his addiction issues and checked into a rehabilitation facility again for alcohol dependency.

He said in an interview at the time: ‘The crash was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me — but it made me stop and re-evaluate everything. I was like, “You know what, I’m not all right”,’ he added.

‘It’s OK to take time off and say to friends that I need to get well.’

He was inundated with support from his celebrity pals, including Britain’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell who said at the time: ‘We didn’t speak while he was in rehab but we got messages through Dec – as we have always done – but I didn’t want to impose on his privacy.’

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I’m A Celebrity bosses have reportedly promised to make a huge change to the future of the show, after facing intense backlash over the inclusion of some campmates.

The likes of Jamie Lynn Spears, Sam Thompson, Boy George and Lioness Jill Scott have taken part in Ant and Dec’s bushtucker trials in recent seasons.

But so have Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage, who was reportedly the highest-paid campmate ever, which viewers weren’t too happy about.

Politicians causing a stir in the jungle is nothing new, with Edwina Currie and Stanley Johnson also having starred on the reality programme.

But that’s all about to change, as bosses are now reportedly planning a ‘politicians ban’.

A source said: ‘In the past it’s been really interesting to see which politicians are willing to join the show, with some even serving MPs.

‘But this year, with an election looming, it doesn’t feel like the right moment for that.’

The insider added to The Mirror: ‘Coming on top of Farage not helping to pull in the punters last year, and Ant and Dec making it clear they want a change, this year it’s a case of avoid, avoid, avoid.

‘It’s time for something different so it’s fair to say no one is seeking any controversial figures from the world of politics at this stage.’

While Hancock finished in third and Farage followed in his footsteps in the same position, Ant and Dec were among those calling for ‘a year without any politicians’.

This came after fans threatened to boycott the programme with comedian Katherine Ryan echoing their sentiment.

She previously told Metro.co.uk: ‘I vehemently am against glorifying people like Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage and reducing them to light entertainment fodder when I think that they’re very dangerous people who have directly hurt lots of families.

‘I don’t think that’s a joke, for me, so I wouldn’t be watching. I didn’t watch last year. I take politics quite seriously.’

Lorraine Kelly and Kathy Burke were other stars who promised to boycott the series over their outrage at politicians taking part in the entertainment programme.

Nonetheless, Metro.co.uk understands that I’m A Celebrity was the most watched Entertainment show on any channel last year with 10.7million average viewers, however, it’s still early days to speculate who may be entering the jungle for the 2024 series.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! returns to ITV later this year.

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It’s hardly surprising that Fred Sirieix, knows a thing or two about love.

The maître d’ turned television star has helped countless First Daters in their quest to find the one – or to at least enjoy a delicious meal.

In this weekend’s 60 Seconds, we chat with Fred about his passion for fitness, the worst part of being on ‘I’m A Celebrity’, the complexities of online dating and the merits of meeting in person. Well, it worked for him.

Hi Fred, what time were you up today?

I woke up early today – I was up at 5am. And I thought ‘OK, I’m up’ and I just went to exercise. And then I collected the bins in the darkness because they were all over the place from the wind. And then I started cooking a chicken chasseur and a celeriac soup. So the day has started well!

You looked in great shape in the I’m A Celebrity jungle – what’s your routine?

I exercise six times a week and I do 20 minutes of basic bodyweight exercises or 301 push-ups, 100 squats and 100 reverse squats, which takes me 20 minutes. Then 
I was on the bike for 20 minutes and I did 15 minutes of various exercises with free weights. But I could be cycling, boxing or playing basketball with my son. It’s basically about getting your heart rate up for 20 minutes a day.

The older you get, the more you realise it’s about mobility. Before I was 45, I was always training to compete against the world champion – now it’s about living longer and healthier. By the time I finish, my mind has been cleansed so I feel like a new man.

What did you want to be a world champion in?

Anything I did! I even tried diving for five days with my daughter, Andrea – who’s an Olympic diver with Team GB. I was black and blue, I got bruised everywhere, it was so painful. I was scared every time I was on the board.

My daughter was on the ground and she said, ‘Daddy, you’ve got to relax, we can see your heart beating in your chest.’ I can’t believe she saw that.

What did you find the most challenging thing about being in the jungle?

The food. In the morning, you’re given the rice and bean portions and you have to decide what you cook and when you’re cooking. So we’d usually have rice in the morning, beans for lunch and then keep something back for the evening.

By the afternoon, your energy levels go down but you need to save energy to get water and wood. That’s when you get hungry.

Your fiancée, Fruitcake, says you’re a bit of a naturist at home. Is that true?

Well if I’m at home, you know, I can do whatever I like. Now it’s a bit cold, so if I’m at home I just wear my shorts and usually don’t have a T-shirt on. I’m pretty relaxed.

How did you meet?

I walked past her in Peckham – I smiled at her, she smiled back and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s beautiful’ and I asked for her number.

We had a quick phone call in the afternoon, and in the evening we met. And that was that!

And you’re getting married this year… congrats!

Thank you. It’s in Jamaica and we’re organising it at the moment. It’s a celebration of our love and of life, so we want it to be a party.

Did you get any tips from doing Ultimate Wedding Planner last year with
Sara Davies?

Of course – you judge so many weddings and it’s interesting 
to see how people go about it and the different kinds of weddings there are.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you how you organise it and make it the way you want it. That’s what we’re going to do.

You’re a ‘good-energy officer’ for holiday company Neilson. Tell us more…

Wherever I go on holiday, I have to do sports. And I was really impressed by the range of activities that Neilson provide. There are more than 20 you can do and from studies, about 49% of people feel more relaxed when they can be active on holiday, which I do.

So I’m in charge of the adrenaline-fuelled activities that Neilson provide and also help spread the word about them, so it’s made to measure for me. It’s combining sports and hospitality.

Do you always factor in exercise when you go away?

Yeah, I think it’s just enjoying the world. So if there’s a fast river like the Gorges du Verdon, why not explore it in a kayak and see things other people won’t?

I was in Thailand and went to practise muay Thai because it’s their national sport.

Or if you’re in Greece and there’s a beautiful flat sea, then I’ll want to do water-skiing. I like exploring the regions, meeting people and enjoying the gastronomy – it’s a feast for the senses.

Love is in the air in First Dates – you’ve had more yeses since moving to Bath!

Bath is a lovely place and very historic, so I think that puts people in the mood.

We were also in a very beautiful venue, which had an incredible atmosphere.

Online dating is so difficult – it’s like a meat market. And there’s always better meat on the next page so people can’t make up their mind. So when you’re sitting down with somebody for a couple of hours, they have to open up.

Book your Neilson Beach Clubs summer holiday at neilson.co.uk

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Former Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has opened up about the reason why she never appeared on the 2015 version of I’m A Celebrity.

The actress, best known for her role as Rachel Breckle in the ITV soap, previously spoke on a podcast about having a meeting with a psychiatrist, who said if she ‘went into the jungle and lost weight, [she] would become anorexic again’.

‘I just felt like I’d been discriminated against because I’d gone through something that was painful, but actually I’m probably one of the most resilient people you’ll ever meet and I’d have been damn good in the jungle, But that was like, eight years ago’, she said on the Celebrity Skin Talk podcast.

‘I think the conversation on mental health is is a lot different now, and people are a lot more like open to that. But yeah, I was quite burned by that.’

Recently, Gemma took to social media to reveal a more detailed insight into this meeting. She shared how much she was looking forward to the prospect of being in the I’m A Celebrity jungle, but had to face a ‘psych test’ first.

Gemma explains that the psychiatrist drew a graph and said ‘going into the jungle would be like me going into this valley and I’d get so far down in this valley – i.e. I’d lose weight – and I would not be able to get back up’.

Gemma was stunned by the assumption she would ‘become anorexic again’ while doing the ITV reality show. She said to the health professional: ‘I have nearly died 5 times, fought to get my life back on track, I am now thriving and not just surviving, and you are telling me that if I lose weight, I am that unaware, I will not be able to not let that effect me’.

‘And he said yeah’.

The actress said that another member of the I’m A Celebrity team told her ‘if he [the psych] writes to us and says, “you categorically are not safe to do this”, we have to follow it’.

After telling her followers that she wanted to speak out, ‘educate, and raise awareness’, Gemma confirms she wasn’t ‘bashing ITV’ and that the problem lied solely with the psychiatrist, who ‘felt like he understood eating disorders well enough to take away an opportunity and discriminate against me’.

‘That man, sitting in front of me, who didn’t know me from Adam, telling me that I couldn’t cope with a challenge and that I would become anorexic again, literally took me back to when I was 10 years old, and my parents took me to the doctor, and the doctor said I wasn’t low enough in weight to be a problem and told me to leave.

‘Within a year, I was admitted to a children’s psychiatric unit and given 24 hours to live’.

Towards the end of the video, Gemma said how she would love to appear in a future series of the show, and believed it would be a perfect opportunity to highlight that ‘recovery is possible’.

The actress, who is a patron of the charity SEED – Support and Empathy for people with Eating Disorders – concluded by saying: ‘I wanted to expand on that conversation because I felt like it was an opportunity to educate and hopefully give an impactful message’.

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The video has picked up a huge response from Gemma’s followers, with many thanking her for speaking out, and sharing their own experiences with eating disorders in the comments.

Posting a message of thanks, Gemma later said: ‘So overwhelmed by the response to this. So many of our seedlings face this treatment even to this day…. What we do at SEED is vital and we must keep pushing for change.

‘Huge love and gratitude to you all. Love always xxx’

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One of the biggest stars to come out of this year’s series of The Traitors has already been tipped to join the cast of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Earlier this year, Harry Clark left viewers’ jaws on the floor when he managed to win more than £95,000 in the second series of BBC’s The Traitors.

The army engineer, who’s dating CBBC presenter Anna Maynard, managed to dupe and swindle his way to the top, convincing his close friend in the game Mollie Pearce that he was Faithful, meaning that she went home with nothing.

It’s now been claimed that ITV bosses have been eyeing up Harry, 23, for a stint in the jungle after being at the ‘centre’ of the fanfare around the show.

‘The Traitors was so huge this year and since they left, the finalists’ feet have barely touched the ground,’ a source said.

‘All of them have been swamped and, as the winner, Harry has been at the centre of the whirlwind.’

They continued to The Mirror: ‘Since the win, he has been approached by casting directors from ITV who want him to appear in the jungle this year.

‘He would be a great get for them and he is seriously considering saying yes – it would be a really incredible opportunity.’

The source added that if Harry were to join I’m A Celebrity, it would be a ‘really interesting twist – and a chance for ITV to buy into the BBC show’s massive success’.

‘Plus he’ll be a pro at anything that involves duping other campmates,’ they remarked.

Following his victory on The Traitors, Harry spoke to Metro.co.uk about his use of private jets, after fans noticed that he appeared to already be leading a lavish lifestyle before taking home the prize money.

‘I wish I had a private jet and I wish I had the money to go on a private jet, it’s a waste of money to be honest,’ said.

‘Everyone thinks I’m rich but I was very lucky to meet my other half, whose brothers have worked amazingly hard since they were 15, and I’ve somehow managed to silver-tongue my way through and weave my way into their lifestyle.’

Harry’s girlfriend Anna is the sister of singer Conor Maynard and YouTuber Jack Maynard.

Metro.co.uk has contacted ITV and Harry Clark’s representatives for comment.

The Traitors is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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Gemma Oaten is perhaps best known to Emmerdale fans as Rachel Breckle, having played the role between 2011 and 2014, before returning for a short stint in 2015 – but she was almost a contestant on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, before being dropped by the show.

Fans adored Rachel’s relationship with Sam Dingle (James Hooton) in Emmerdale, but things went wrong for them when Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) and Declan Macey tried to frame Sam for the Home Farm fire of 2013, forcing Rachel to go on the run in order to save him from prison.

When Rachel returned after Charity was sent to prison, Sam and Rachel were unable to repair their relationship, and when her violent behaviour towards him was exposed, she left the village.

Outside of acting, Gemma has dedicated her time to raising awareness for eating disorders, following her own battle with anorexia and bulimia.

As a patron of the charity SEED – Support and Empathy for people with Eating Disorders – which was set up by her parents, Gemma has worked tirelessly to raise money and awareness to help others who are struggling.

Part of this has involved sharing her own stories in the hopes that they will resonate with others.

Writing for Metro.co.uk, Gemma previously explained why her parents, Marg and Dennis Oaten, started SEED Eating Disorder Support Services, and credited them for helping her in her own recovery.

‘Early intervention is KEY when it comes to eating disorders. Because I didn’t get that I nearly lost my life. However, I had a fire inside me because my parents gave me the spark by not giving up on me and by making me remember who I was. And here I am today living my dreams as an actress, presenter, and public speaker…but more importantly, I am now patron and manager of SEED. A cycle. Not a vicious cycle, a full circle cycle of hope.’

While her overall message is one of hope and positivity, Gemma does not shy away from sharing the hardships of eating disorder recovery, including the ‘discrimination’ she has faced along the way.

Speaking to Scott McGlynn on his Celebrity Skin Talk podcast, Gemma opened up about one such occasion, which saw her miss out on the chance to appear on I’m A Celebrity after being placed on the reserve list.

‘Unfortunately, what happens you all have to go through like psych tests and stuff,’ she explained.

‘And I had this interview with this psychiatrist who said that if I went into the jungle and lost weight, I would become anorexic again. And I was like “Um no, that’s not how it works”.

‘I just felt like I’d been discriminated against because I’d gone through something that was painful, but actually I’m probably one of the most resilient people you’ll ever meet and I’d have been damn good in the jungle, But that was like, eight years ago.

‘I think the conversation on mental health is is a lot different now, and people are a lot more like open to that. But yeah, I was quite burned by that.’

Metro.co.uk has reached out to ITV for comment.

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Alongside her charity work, Gemma has continued acting, taking on roles in Coronation Street and Holby City over the last few years.

She recently shared the exciting news that she is set to head back to BBC soap Doctors after 13 years, taking on a new role.

Taking to social media to break the ‘super exciting’ news, Gemma wrote: ‘Absolutely buzzing to be asked back to the show that gave me my 1st ever TV role within 2 months of graduating from Drama school, some THIRTEEN YEARS AGO!’

You can find information and support around eating disorders by visiting the website of SEED and calling 01482 421525.

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