X Factor boss Simon Cowell ‘WON’T be attending pal Ant McPartlin’s wedding to Anne-Marie Corbett alongside star-studded guest list including Holly Willoughby and Amanda Holden’
He’s set to wed fiancée Anne-Marie Corbett at a beautiful church in a quaint Hampshire village this weekend in front of 100 guests.
And while the likes of Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Stephen Mulhern and Ant’s Best Man and TV sidekick, Declan Donnelly will all be in attendance, Simon Cowell will not be there to watch Ant McPartlin, 45, and Anne-Marie, 43, exchange vows.
According to The Sun, there is ‘no place’ for music mogul Simon, 61, who is currently holidaying in Barbados with his partner Lauren Silverman.
Wedding: Ant McPartlin, 45, and Anne-Marie Corbett, 43, are set to wed in a quaint Hampshire village this weekend, but Simon Cowell won’t be in attendance, according to reports
MailOnline has reached out to representatives for both Simon and Ant for comment.
Although Ant now maintains a good relationship with Simon, he and Dec, 45, revealed last year that they considered quitting Britain’s Got Talent after feeling like they were ‘side-lined’ on the series.
The presenting duo, who have fronted the show since its inception in 2007, admitted in their book Once Upon A Tyne that they had crisis talks with Simon Cowell in Los Angeles in 2012 where they told him they were considering walking away.
The trio met at a restaurant in West Hollywood and sat outside so Simon could smoke with Ant and Dec noting he was only a minute late for the meeting, which they said is out of character for him as he is often hours late.
Guests: While the likes of Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Stephen Mulhern and Declan Donnelly will all be in attendance, Simon, 61, will not be there to watch Ant exchange vows
Ant and Dec wrote: ‘We let him have it with both barrels. We told him everything – that we weren’t being used, that we could be doing other stuff, that maybe someone else should take over.
‘He made a promise to us that things would change and that we’d never feel like that again. He desperately wanted us to stay and we told him we’d do the next series and see how it went – and, to be fair to him, he was as good as his word and things did change.’
Meanwhile, on Friday, a lorry full of flowers and vans were seen arriving in the sleepy Hampshire village where Ant and Anne-Marie Corbett will wed this weekend.
Villagers were looking forward to seeing the couple as well as a host of their celebrity friends.
Wow: A lorry full of flowers and vans were seen arriving in the sleepy Hampshire village where Ant is marrying Anne-Marie this weekend
Mum of three Janice Collete said:’ As soon as people heard there were barriers going up at the church we sort of guessed that it was going to be a big wedding. I am sure many people will come out to see and wish them the best.’
A team of 10 florists constructed two arches at the church. One arch was at the stone entrance to the church while the other was in the car park where the bride will be dropped off. Work on the flower filled arches had to be temporarily halted due to a downpour.
Just one day before it was revealed that a ring of steel has been placed around the quaint village church in Hampshire where the couple are to exchange wows ahead of the lavish reception at a nearby Georgian stately home-turned hotel.
Day out: Ant (centre) enjoyed a round of golf alongside his presenter pal Declan (left) and another friend (right) on Tuesday ahead of his wedding to fiancée Anne-Marie
The star-studded guest-list, as well as close friends and family, will be put up in £1,000 a night rooms and encouraged to use the hotel’s spa facilities – and send the bill to Ant and Anne-Marie’s honeymoon suite.
A source said: ‘Ant and Anne-Marie hoped to get married abroad but this is the next best thing. The wedding reception is located away from prying eyes and set in beautiful surroundings.
‘It will also have the feel of a traditional wedding, which suits both parties as they are very down to earth people. They can’t wait to finally get hitched.’
The source also told MailOnline that the couple were so desperate to keep the location underwraps, guests were only made aware of the date in their invitations – with the venue disclosed nearer the time.
The vicar who is set to marry Ant and Anne-Marie, Rev’d Canon Dr Marion de Quidt, told the Daily Star: ‘I’m looking forward to sharing in their joy, and I’m looking forward to the blessings for their future.
‘That’s all I can say right now, but God bless, it’s going to be a wonderful time.’
Ant proposed to Anne-Marie on Christmas Eve having dated since March 2018.
The couple’s choice of reception venue appeals to celebrities due to its walled gardens offering privacy to guests.
The hotel is also situated several hundred yards away from its entrance, meaning onlookers situated outside a heavy security presence will be unable to catch a glimpse of celebrations.
Close friends: Not only will Ant’s best friend Dec be in attendance, but close friends Holly, 40, and Phillip, 59, will also be at the star-studded ceremony
The spacious grounds also boast ancient woodlands, tranquil gardens and a beautiful lake, offering the perfect backdrop to wedding pictures.
Ant was this week pictured playing golf with Saturday Night Takeaway co-host Dec as part of the build-up to this weekend’s nuptials.
The presenting duo, both dressed in navy blue, were seen high-fiving and celebrating after some particularly impressive shots. Dec was also Ant’s Best Man at his first marriage to former wife Lisa Armstrong in 2006.
Ant and Lisa confirmed their divorce in January this year after ending their 11-year marriage in 2017. Ant worked with Anne-Marie for several years before they started dating.
The former PA was employed for the same London-based management company as Ali Astall, Dec’s wife, for a decade, however she only began working closely with Ant since 2017.
Anne-Marie, who split with ex-husband Scott in October that year, helped Ant recover from his ‘lowest depths’ after a spate of personal problems, culminating with a drink-driving charge in 2018.
Holiday: Lisa Armstrong continues to enjoy a holiday with her new man James Green as her ex-husband Ant gears up to marry Anne-Marie at a £1k-per-night Hampshire hotel this weekend
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