It’s not long now till Ant McPartlin welcomes his first baby with wife Anne-Marie.
Ant, 48, and Anne-Marie, 46, first sparked speculation they were expecting last November, when Anne-Marie decided against flying out to Australia to join Ant for I’m A Celebrity. Then came those ‘bump’ pictures at the BGT auditions.
Here’s what we know so far as Ant prepares to hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet…
Ant McPartlin baby news: Anne-Marie stays home during I’m A Celeb
While Declan Donnelly’s wife Ali Astall and their kids headed Down Under last year, Anne-Marie stayed at home.
Now, that could’ve been because her daughters, from her first marriage, were still in school. Or, as the rumour mill suggests, because she may not have wanted to travel so far from home while pregnant.
Festive break in Dubai
Fans’ first glimpse of her baby bump came on December 27, when Ant and Anne-Marie headed off to Dubai for some winter sunshine.
In pictures obtained by the MailOnline, the pair were snapped arriving at Heathrow ahead of their flight. Anne-Marie looked glowing and appeared to be several months pregnant.
He couldn’t stop smiling, he looked like the happiest man in the world.
For the trip, she wore a loose black dress, styled with a yellow cardigan. Meanwhile, hubby Ant beamed as he wished his fellow travellers a merry Christmas.
One onlooker said: “He couldn’t stop smiling, he looked like the happiest man in the world.”
BGT auditions
January saw Anne-Marie and one of her daughters accompany Ant to the Britain’s Got Talent auditions.
The couple were snapped leaving together, with photographers taking shots of a protective Ant helped Anne-Marie to a waiting car.
Her baby bump could be seen as Anne-Marie wore a form-fitting black top and open varsity jacket.
Telling their friends
February saw the couple let their pals in on the secret pregnancy.
It was reported that Ant and Anne-Marie shared their happy news with friends. And, it’s said, the couple are “absolutely delighted” to be welcoming their first baby together.
A source said: “This is the news everyone wanted. Ant and Anne- Marie are beyond delighted. It’s no secret that Ant has always wanted children, but that it may never happen for him was something he had, sadly, come to terms with.”
They then shared more details. “When they found out last year, they were absolutely delighted, but obviously kept the news quiet for as long as possible. To be having a child two years short of his 50th birthday, with the love of his life, is the stuff of dreams for Ant.”
The source then added: “He’s already a wonderful, doting father to Anne-Marie’s kids. Together they’re going to be brilliant parents to this latest addition to the family.”
Ant’s stepdad then broke his silence to officially confirm the news!
He said: “He will make a good dad. He’s good with the girls so he’ll be great.”
Lisa Armstrong’s reaction
Also that month, reports suggested that Lisa Armstrong, Ant’s ex-wife, was “shocked” to hear the news.
“Ant didn’t even have the decency to let Lisa know. Like the rest of the world, she had to read about it in the news and you can only imagine what a shock that must have been for her,” a source told the MailOnline.
“For someone you’d shared so much with not to tell you something that they knew full well was going to become a huge, huge story in the press is pretty hard to get your head around,” they then continued.
“It is a horrible shame that Lisa had to find out like this. You can just imagine how hard that would hit her. It is heartbreaking.”
Ant McPartlin weds Anne-Marie
In 2018, it was reported that he was dating Anne-Marie Corbett, who was formerly his personal assistant.
Anne-Marie said “I do” to Ant in 2021 when the pair married in front of family and friends. It was both Ant’s and Anne-Marie’s second wedding.
The pair looked blissfully happy as they posed for photos on their wedding day. Ant punched the air with delight when they came out of the church.
According to reports, Anne-Marie’s girls Poppy and Daisy took centre stage at their mum’s nuptials. The girls are said to have performed readings during the ceremony. They also acted as bridesmaids for their mum, wearing gorgeous long lilac dresses.
Proud Ant then paid tribute to the girls in his speech at the reception. He admitted, that the girls call him Dad. Ant is said to have told guests: “I’m grateful they call me Dad.”
‘She’s been my rock’
Two years before the nuptials, Ant paid tribute to Anne-Marie. It came after she supported his recovery.
He said: “She’s been my rock. She’s a beautiful soul. We’re very happy. I’m in the best place I’ve been in my life. It’s great.”
He also described Anne-Marie and the girls as his happy place during the 2020 final of I’m A Celebrity.
Read more: From addict to proud stepdad – every step of Ant McPartlin’s rebrand
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