For years, the narrative around Ant McPartlin’s split from wife Lisa Armstrong has focused on his struggles with addiction and the arrival of Anne-Marie Corbett, the woman who would become his new partner. But shocking new revelations suggest that two familiar faces — Holly Willoughby and Declan Donnelly’s wife Ali Astall — were far more involved in bringing Anne-Marie into Ant’s world than many realized. 
According to insiders, it was Holly Willoughby who first recommended Anne-Marie for a new role supporting Ant and Dec. At the time, Anne-Marie was working as a personal assistant within their management agency. Holly believed she would be a reliable “house manager” to help Ant and Dec manage their diaries, properties, and household tasks.
Shortly after, Ali Astall, Declan Donnelly’s long-term partner (now wife), cemented that introduction — making sure Anne-Marie became closely involved with both Ant and Dec’s day-to-day lives.
What happened next, friends say, set off a chain of events that would eventually tear Ant’s marriage apart.
From Friend to Rival
Back in 2009, Lisa and Anne-Marie appeared side by side at a christening, smiling with children on their laps. At that time, they were seen as close friends within the Ant and Dec circle. But once Anne-Marie became “house manager” in 2012, tensions escalated.
Lisa reportedly began to feel Anne was overstepping. Meanwhile, Anne-Marie confided that she felt Lisa treated her more like a skivvy than a professional. The friendship soured — and years later, when Anne-Marie and Ant became romantically involved, Lisa accused her of betraying the “girl code.”
But behind it all, sources insist, Holly and Ali had unknowingly set the pieces in motion.
“Without Holly’s suggestion and Ali’s backing, Anne-Marie might never have been part of Ant and Dec’s inner circle to begin with,” one insider explained. “Lisa has always felt that this was the turning point — and it makes her heartbreak even harder to bear.” 
Lisa’s Anguish
For Lisa Armstrong, the pain was compounded by the sense that those around her had opened the door to the woman who would eventually take her place.
“She felt blindsided,” another friend revealed. “It wasn’t just about Ant and Anne-Marie. It was about the fact that people she trusted — people she considered part of their extended family — were the ones who introduced Anne into their lives. That betrayal cut deep.”
A Marriage Already Cracking 
Those close to Ant argue that his marriage to Lisa was already faltering. Ant, they say, wanted a quiet, family-centered life. Lisa preferred the social scene. The cracks were obvious long before Anne-Marie became more than a friend.
Still, the role Holly and Ali played — however unintentionally — is now seen as a pivotal moment in one of Britain’s most high-profile breakups.
The Story That Won’t Go Away
More than a decade later, the fallout continues. Ant and Lisa’s divorce, estimated at £62 million, remains one of the most expensive in British showbiz history. Ant has moved on with Anne-Marie, while Lisa has rebuilt her life and career.
But for those who were there at the beginning, the memory of that introduction — Holly suggesting Anne for the job, Ali supporting her entry into Ant and Dec’s circle — will always be remembered as the spark that ignited a storm.
