Lisa Armstrong stocks up on wine with boyfriend James Green in a rare outing as she is seen for the first time since ex-husband Ant McPartlin announced his engagement
- The former wife of presenter Ant McPartlin, 44, stepped out with the electrician, 37, in west London on Sunday
- Make-up artist Lisa and her beau went public with their relationship during a park date last August, a few months after he separated from his wife Kirsty
- Over the summer, the senior engineer’s estranged wife told of her hurt at seeing photos of her husband of five years cuddling up to Lisa
- His friend previously insisted he has ‘genuinely fallen for Lisa’ and has no interest in the £31million she received in her divorce settlement with Ant, 44
- Lisa, the head of make-up and hair for Strictly Come Dancing, finalised her divorce with Ant back in April 2020 after their split in January 2018
- The former couple, who were married for 12 years, are said to be on amicable terms
- Ant got engaged to his former PA Anne-Marie Corbett, 43, on Christmas Eve following a nearly three-year romance
Lisa Armstrong was seen stocking up on wine with her boyfriend James Green during a rare outing on Sunday.
The former wife of presenter Ant McPartlin, 44, opted for comfort in a red tracksuit as she and the electrician, 37, took a trip to a local shop in west London.
Marking her first romance since her £31 million was finalised, the make-up artist and her beau went public with their relationship last August, a few months after he separated from his wife Kirsty.
Side by side: Lisa Armstrong was seen stocking up on wine with her boyfriend James Green during a rare outing on Sunday
Cutting a casual figure, the former Deuce member teamed her vibrant co-ords with white trainers and a designer crossbody bag by Gucci.
The ex-musician wore her tresses loose and appeared to go make-up free while sporting a patterned face mask.
Father-of-two James, meanwhile, looked equally low-key in a khaki green jacket, a pale jumper and indigo trousers.
The couple, who are believed to be spending the UK’s third lockdown together, held onto alcoholic beverages and snacks as they headed to their next destination.
Low key: The former wife of presenter Ant McPartlin, 44, opted for comfort in a red tracksuit as she and the electrician, 37, took a trip to a local shop in west London
New romance: The make-up artist and her beau went public with their relationship last August, a few months after he separated from his wife Kirsty
Over the summer, the senior engineer’s estranged wife told of her hurt at seeing photos of her husband of five years cuddling up to Lisa during a park date on the morning of her 36th birthday.
The TV star’s new lover moved out of their £475,000 family home in Winchester, Hampshire, last year.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Kirsty said she had a suspicion that her ex was dating Lisa because a mutual friend has already told her they were an item.
Relaxed: Cutting a casual figure, the former Deuce member teamed her vibrant co-ords with white trainers and a designer crossbody bag by Gucci
She revealed at the time: ‘I saw the photos of James and Lisa yesterday – on my birthday, which wasn’t the best present ever. I’d kind of already had an idea they were an item, someone gave me the heads up.
Kirsty said they had been together for many years and had a daughter, 14, and their 11-year-old son.
Admitting they’re still on good terms, she explained: ‘James and me are not divorced yet, we are still going through the process but we split earlier this year and obviously he has moved out.
‘We were together for a long time and I still have a good relationship with him and still speak to him. He is the father of my two children after all.
Relaxed: Father-of-two James, meanwhile, looked equally low-key in a khaki green jacket and a pale sweater
Let’s go: The couple, who are believed to be spending the UK’s third lockdown together, held onto alcoholic beverages and snacks as they headed to their next destination
‘I’ve seen some of the comments people have made about James and Lisa online and I’ve found them quite upsetting to be honest.
‘I think people have a negative view because Ant McPartlin is so popular, he’s seen almost as a national treasure.’
James is a senior electrical engineer for Doorgear Ltd, where he installs and maintains electric doors.
His friend previously insisted he has ‘genuinely fallen for Lisa’ and has no interest in the £31million she received in her divorce settlement with Ant, 44, who is now engaged to his partner of three years, Anne-Marie Corbett.
Don’t mind me: Lisa wore her tresses loose and appeared to go make-up free while sporting a patterned face mask
A close friend told MailOnline: ‘People have been sniping saying that he’s only with her because she’s got £31million from the divorce with Ant McPartlin but I truly believe it’s got nothing to do with money.
‘He genuinely likes her and seems to be getting back to his old self after a really rough patch at the end of last year when his marriage was falling apart.
‘James was with Kirsty for a long time – since they were both teenagers – and they always seemed like the perfect family with fantastic children.
‘But for whatever reason that relationship started to unravel and it was then that he met Lisa.
‘Someone gave me the heads-up’; Over the summer, the engineer’s estranged wife (pictured) told of her hurt at seeing photos of her husband of five years cuddling up to Lisa during a date
‘At the start of this year, he was away working and was sat in a bar in London and she was in there. They got talking and had a lovely night.
‘They swapped numbers at the end of the evening but I don’t think it was any more than that because at the time he was still with Kirsty, even though they weren’t living together.
‘He apparently told Lisa that he was having trouble with his marriage and that he may be single very soon, which was true because by this point he was living with his mum and dad.’
James met Lisa in a London bar at the turn of the year and the pair exchanged numbers at the end of the night when he confessed his five-year marriage was in trouble, telling her: ‘I’m probably going to be single very soon.’
The duo kept in contact during lockdown and James ‘couldn’t be happier’ now they are spending more time together.
Exes: Lisa, the head of make-up and hair for Strictly Come Dancing, finalised her divorce with Ant back in April 2020 after their split in January 2018 (pictured on their wedding day in 2006)
The insider added: ‘A few months ago, James told me that he had been to see her a few more times before lockdown but now people are allowed out to socialise again, he goes down to London a lot more often.
‘He and Lisa are now an item and he seems to be much more positive about the future.
‘Kirsty is also seeing someone else, from what I gather, although it must still be difficult to see your former husband splashed across the newspapers cosying up to Ant McPartlin’s ex.’
Lisa, the head of make-up and hair for Strictly Come Dancing, finalised her divorce with Ant back in April 2020 after their split in January 2018 following 12 years of marriage.
Moving: Ant recently confirmed his engagement to former PA Anne-Marie Corbett on New Year’s Day following a Christmas Eve proposal
Earlier this year, the Saturday Night Takeaway co-host was reported to have handed over £31 million to Lisa, including their £5 million home in West London, following his highly documented battle with painkillers and alcohol.
While she remains on good terms with him, Lisa is understood to have felt that Ant ‘got away with a lot’ following their split.
Their outing came after claims emerged that Lisa is over her broadcaster Ant as she feels he has become a different person to the one she married.
According to reports, the beauty expert was not shocked by the I’m A Celebrity star’s engagement to his former PA Anne-Marie, 43, and instead expected them to do so sooner than it happened.
Congratulations! The broadcaster and his girlfriend had been dating for nearly three years (pictured in 2019)
It was revealed on New Year’s Day that Ant had got engaged to girlfriend Anne-Marie after romantically popping the question on Christmas Eve.
A source speaking to New magazine claimed: ‘The engagement wasn’t a shock for Lisa. She thought it would be the next step and she was actually surprised they hadn’t got engaged before now.’
‘She thinks Ant is a different person. He’s not the same Ant that she knew and was in love with, it’s someone very different.
‘The way he treated her killed all the love she had for him. They were together from a really young age and it’s like they’re both different people now.’
The source added that Lisa wished Ant and Anne-Marie well, and claimed she has gotten over their former romance and did so ‘a long time ago’.
Ant has been linked to the personal assistant since March 2018 and it is expected that a ‘thrilled’ Declan Donnelly will ‘act as the best man’ at their wedding – just as he was at Ant’s first nuptials back in 2006.
A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Ant and Amzie are delighted to announce their engagement. The proposal took place on Christmas Eve at home in a very romantic setting.’
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