Ant McPartlin's ex wife Lisa Armstrong took to social media to join fans reacting to the last ever Saturday Night Takeaway.
Ant and best friend and TV partner Declan Donnelly announced earlier this year they were retiring their family entertainment show after more than 20 years on air. The final episode featured an array of surprises and special guests - including Simon Cowell and Holly Willoughby - before the emotional duo delivered a tearful sign off in the closing moments.
Many viewers took to social media to congratulate the pair - with Ant's former wife Lisa also giving a very rare show of support. The make-up artist liked a post calling the friends 'simply the best' as they celebrated their milestone achievement.
Make-up artist Lisa was once at the very heart of Ant and Dec's inner circle, having been in a relationship with Ant for 23 years and married to him for 11. She also shared an incredibly close bond with Ant's closest confidant Dec, who acted as best man at their 2006 wedding. Lisa also shares many ITV friends in common with the duo after working on Britain's Got Talent for years prior to her split from Ant.
Ahead of the last Saturday Night Takeaway ever, Lisa liked a post from one of her TV pals calling Ant and Dec 'simply the best.' The post 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."
The move makes a marked change with Lisa previously using her social media presence to 'like' a slew of messages slamming her ex's behaviour and supporting her navigating her new single life without him.
Ant and Lisa shocked the showbiz world when their split was announced in 2018, just eight months after Ant left rehab. Celebrity make-up artist had loyally stood by the TV star when his career was rocked by a drug addiction scandal.
In a statement at the time, a representative said: "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."
It came as a shock, with Ant shutting down rumours of a rocky relationship before his first rehab stint in 2017. He said: "I've put Lisa through hell with mood swings and depression and how it affects you. I'm very sorry about the effect it has on partners."
A year after his split with Lisa, Ant's romance with PA Anne-Marie was uncovered. Lisa revealed on Twitter the first she'd heard about the new couple through the papers like everyone else, and accused the mum-of-two of breaking 'girl code'. Anne-Marie previously worked for the married couple for six years and even organised their 10th wedding anniversary party in 2016.
In October 2018, Ant and Lisa were granted a decree nisi in a hearing that lasted under 30 seconds. According to documents, Lisa filed for divorce because he became 'intolerable to live with'. Ant admitted adultery as his relationship with Anne-Marie began when they were still married - although separated.
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On Saturday night Ant and Dec became tearful as they bowed of their final ever episode of Saturday Night Takeaway after a 20 series run.
The Geordie duo announced that they would be halting the ITV1 entertainment series to 'catch their breath.' Ant told viewers: “Saturday Night Takeaway is the kind of show Dec and I watched every Saturday growing up, so it’s been an honour and a privilege to have made the show and to have been part of your Saturday nights for over 20 years.”
Donnelly said: “When we started this back in 2002, we thought we’d be lucky if we got to do this for maybe a couple of years, so what’s happened has honestly been beyond our wildest dreams. We have truly adored every second of making the show, but there’s one thing we’ve never ever forgotten, and that’s the fact it’s not our show – it’s your show. So we’d like to say a massive thank you to you, our incredible audience.”
They then looked back at highlight clips from more than two decades of the show before taking part in a big musical number with McFly, who sang a version of their hit song All About You alongside the two presenters.
Their final goodbye to viewers thanked the audience and the celebrities for taking part and followed on from them singing Kool & The Gang’s Celebration throughout the studio. Kicking off the two-hour finale on Saturday was singer Craig David, who DJed in front of the studio to crowds before McPartlin told the audience inside that the ending was “going to be emotional”.
They then introduced guests Girls Aloud ahead of their upcoming reunion tour, saying the girl group would be the announcers for the evening, as well as scientist Brian Cox.
The pals were also joined by S Club, Tony Hadley and Kaiser Chiefs to perform the latter band’s hit track I Predict A Riot after the sing-a-long competition.
Ant and Dec who met on teen drama Byker Grove, have been working together for more than 30 years, and launched Saturday Night Takeaway in 2002.
It won't be long before viewers get to see the pair in action though as they will front a brand new series of Britain's Got Talent which launches next week.