They once appeared inseparable — smiling at a christening, holding children on their laps, surrounded by friends. But what looked like a solid friendship between Lisa Armstrong and Anne-Marie Corbett would later collapse into a bitter rivalry that changed everything.
Back in 2009, photos showed Lisa, Ant McPartlin’s then-wife, cradling a baby while Anne-Marie, Ant’s PA at the time, sat nearby with another child. They were even part of the same social circle as Declan Donnelly’s partner Ali Astall. On the surface, they looked like firm friends.
But the friendship cracked years later when Anne-Marie was promoted to “house manager” for Ant and Dec in 2012 — a role suggested by presenter Holly Willoughby. Sources say that from then on, tensions quickly grew between the two women.
According to insiders, Anne-Marie began to feel Lisa was treating her less like a professional and more like domestic help. At first she was asked to handle errands and paperwork, but over time the tasks became more personal — from picking up fast food to fixing household issues.
“She felt humiliated,” one source explained. “She thought Lisa went too far. Ant was always kind to her, but Anne-Marie believed Lisa turned on her. To now suggest she broke the ‘girl code’ doesn’t tell the whole story.”
By 2018, when Ant’s romance with Anne-Marie was made public, Lisa reacted with fury — accusing her of betraying their friendship. On social media, Lisa referred to Anne-Marie as “OUR PA who I let into OUR home,” before echoing a fan’s post suggesting she had broken the code of loyalty between women.
But those close to Ant insist the marriage was already unraveling long before Anne-Marie became romantically involved.
“Ant wanted a quiet family life — kids, stability, a home,” one insider said. “Lisa preferred the party scene with her Strictly colleagues. There were deep cracks in their marriage that everyone could see, including Anne-Marie.”
The final blow to the women’s relationship came after Ant’s stint in rehab. As Ant moved into a £1.6 million rental home nearby, Anne-Marie continued working for him while still crossing paths with Lisa. Their fragile bond shattered when Lisa eventually asked Anne to leave her role.
“Things went downhill fast after rehab,” the source said. “Anne-Marie felt Lisa was taking out her stress and pain on her. That’s why she was stunned when Lisa later claimed they were once such close friends.”
Despite Lisa’s anger, Ant and Anne-Marie grew even closer. She stood by him after his drink-driving arrest in 2018, where he was fined £86,000 and banned from driving. Friends say she became his “rock” during one of the lowest points of his life.
Looking back at that christening photo — Lisa proudly showing off her diamond wedding ring — it has become a symbol of everything that came before the heartache: a friendship turned rivalry, a marriage broken beyond repair, and a story that continues to fascinate fans years later.
