Ant McPartlin’s ex Lisa Armstrong, 49, is ‘happier than ever’ and treated like a ‘princess’ by new actor boyfriend, 34, after playing ‘second fiddle’ in previous relationships

Ant McPartlin’s ex-wife Lisa Armstrong is said to be ‘happier than ever’ with her new actor boyfriend, who treats her like a ‘princess’ after years of serving as ‘second fiddle’ in past relationships.

The Daily Mail revealed in December that the 49-year-old makeup artist had a crush on actor Grant Kilburn, 34, and the pair had been quietly dating in recent weeks.

Lisa, who leads the team that brings glamor and glamor to Strictly Come Dancing, met after going to see Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton perform together at the Theater Royal in Brighton in early October.

Now, the budding romance has reportedly filled Lisa with confidence, with sources stating that she has finally moved on and is enjoying a renewed sense of happiness and energy.

A source told Mirror: ‘He’s so used to relationships where he plays second fiddle.

‘This time he’s number one. She’s taking it slow, she doesn’t want to get hurt again, but she’s being treated like a princess and her new man can’t do enough for her.

The Daily Mail revealed in December that the 49-year-old makeup artist had a crush on actor Grant Kilburn, 34, and the pair had been quietly dating in recent weeks.

‘His life revolves around hers and he adores her and tells her that all the time. ‘He’s doing so well in his career that he’s come into his own and she’s encouraged it.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Lisa’s rep for comment.

This comes after the Daily Mail revealed in December that Grant and Lisa quickly hit it off after being introduced by Stacey and Kevin Clifton following one of their performances.

Stacey and Kevin, who have a two-year-old daughter, are currently starring in the stage production of 2:22 A Ghost Story, which has been touring the UK since August 2025 and includes Grant in the cast.

Sources revealed after the show that the couple introduced Lisa to Grant, 34, who is 15 years younger than Lisa.

A source told the Daily Mail: ‘Lisa and Grant got on really well and it brought the smile back to her face.

‘Their relationship is still in its early stages and they’re keeping it on the down-low at the moment. Lisa went through a very painful and very public breakup with Ant and doesn’t want to get hurt again, but she’s not thinking about that right now.

‘They just enjoy spending time together. Grant lives in Kent but stays with Lisa whenever he can. Both have been very busy – Lisa and Strictly while Grant has been touring the country.

They met after Lisa, who heads the team that brings glitz and glamor to Strictly Come Dancing, went to see Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton perform together at the Theater Royal in Brighton in early October.

A source told The Mirror: ‘He’s gotten so used to relationships where he plays second fiddle. This time he’s number one. ‘She’s taking it slow, she doesn’t want to get hurt again, but she’s being treated like a princess.’

‘They’re taking it one by one at the moment but it’s great to see him happy again.’

While her showbiz career continues to flourish, Lisa has had to face a series of setbacks and heartbreak since her acrimonious split from Ant, 50, famous for his double act with co-host Dec Donnelly, in 2018.

She broke up with her boyfriend James Green in 2023. Sky electrician (42) moved out of his home.

That same year, a fire broke out in the £5 million house she bought in Chiswick after her divorce.

And the Daily Mail can reveal Grant has also had to overcome challenges in his life. After graduating from Mountview, one of the UK’s leading drama schools, in 2013, things started flowing for the ‘confident, outgoing and athletic’ actor.

He said: ‘It was a really exciting time. I felt like the world was under my feet and nothing could go wrong.’

But disaster struck in April the following year when Grant, then just 23, collapsed on a shopping trip with his brother and it was revealed he had suffered a stroke.

In a 2023 interview he said: ‘I was convinced I was going to die. ‘I remember lying in hospital with so much chaos around me and thinking, “It’s time to go and say goodbye.”‘

Later that day, Grant had a CT scan and showed two large blood clots at the base of his brain.

He said: ‘I never thought a fit, healthy 20-something could have a stroke. I was so scared of what happened…’

Lisa was previously married to TV presenter Ant, 50, for 11 years (both were filmed on their wedding day in 2006).

This fear stuck with Grant, and he described how it took him almost a decade to get his life back to where he wanted it to be.

He said: ‘I became depressed and anxious. It took over my life, especially the panic attacks. ‘Every time I got a headache I was terrified that I was about to have another stroke.’

With professional support, Grant was able to better understand what was happening to him and overcome many of his fears.

He has since helped raise awareness for the Stroke Association and visited prisons including Belmarsh, Pentonville and Thameside to encourage other men to talk about their mental health problems and depression.

Friends have told how Lisa struggled to get over dark times after splitting from Ant.

The couple’s romance began in their teens and they were together for more than 23 years.

Lisa met Ant while he was in a band called Deuce on the Smash Hits tour in Newcastle in 1994; this group featured him and his partner Dec, reaching new heights in TV and music as PJ & Duncan following their work in Byker Grove.

They were together for more than 10 years before Ant proposed to Lisa while on holiday in Dubai in 2005.

She later fell in love with 42-year-old sky electrician James Green. However, they separated in 2023 and James moved out of Green’s house.

They spent £150,000 on a lavish wedding reception at Cliveden House hotel in Buckinghamshire in July 2006, with December as Ant’s best man.

Ant and Dec went on to cement their place as Britain’s favorite TV duo during their marriage, but despite the good times, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

In 2013, Ant opened up about the couple’s struggle to conceive, telling Radio Times: ‘Lisa and I would love to have children. We are trying. It’s harder than you think when you get a little older.’

She also told Fabulous Magazine: ‘I guess I’m lucky. Lisa works in the industry and understands this. He works constantly – sometimes more than I do!

‘We would love to have a family, so we lucked out. If we were blessed with children, then we would be overjoyed!’

There were more problems ahead when Ant entered rehab in 2017 for alcohol and prescription drug addiction.

Admitting he needed help, he said at the time: ‘I feel like I’ve let a lot of people down and I’m really sorry about that.’

He admitted in an interview that he put Lisa through hell with her mood swings and depression, but praised her for being ‘wonderful’.

Rumors that the couple had split emerged in the autumn of 2017 after Lisa did not accompany Ant to Australia for I’m A Celeb.

He denied that there were problems at the time, stating that he had a job and had not been to Australia for years.

However, Ant’s representative announced in January 2018 that the couple’s 12-year marriage had ended.