Ant McPartlin was going through a life-or-death determination in the summertime of 2017.
Keep in an sad marriage and permit his dependancy to additional spiral uncontrolled.
Or comply with his coronary heart by breaking free, focussing on sobriety after which making an attempt to rebuild his profession.
It took him a while – and a devastating drink drive crash that might have killed somebody and got here near derailing his comeback altogether – earlier than he selected the latter possibility.
However this weekend Ant will marry the love of his life Anne Marie Corbett – clear, sober and blissfully pleased, together with his standing as one half of the nation’s most profitable TV duo restored.
This weekend Ant McPartlin will marry the love of his life Anne Marie Corbett – clear, sober and blissfully pleased, together with his standing as one half of the nation’s most profitable TV duo restored
It is a life lesson that typically making the unconscionably powerful choices within the short-term will convey lifelong peace.
And it is a reminder that attempting to beat private challenges by yourself could be unimaginable.
As a result of behind this fairy story comeback has been Anne Marie – his self-described ‘rock’ who’s about to develop into his spouse.
I really feel happy with Ant – who’s innately non-public regardless of his famous person standing in Britain – for residing via such a tough restoration within the glare of the general public highlight.
It was in August 2017 after I first sat down with the Saturday Evening Takeaway presenter, simply out of a two-month rehab stint, at a home in West London the place he would disclose to the world simply how near dying he’d come due to an dependancy to a cocktail of medicine for the previous two years that had seen him rushed to hospital after an ‘insane’ binge on tramadol, morphine and alcohol.
I had hung out with and interviewed Ant and Dec numerous occasions over time in my former function as a presenter at ITV’s Lorraine present, however this was the primary time he had ever spoken with out his loyal sidekick and greatest good friend by his aspect.
The expertise was, I’ve little doubt, extremely tough for him, however he knew the significance of sharing his story together with his thousands and thousands of followers earlier than returning to TV.
And in a brutally sincere admission, Ant informed me: ‘I used to be on the level the place something — prescribed drugs, non-prescription medicine — I’d take. And take them with alcohol, which is ridiculous. The docs informed me, ‘You may have killed your self’.’
In hindsight, his comeback got here far too quickly.
Whereas I used to be hopeful, I keep in mind strolling away from our very sincere encounter pondering the possibilities of a easy path again to sobriety and happiness have been bleak.
Flowers being organized forward of the marriage of Ant McPartlin and Anne-Marie Corbett at St Michael’s Church in HeckfieldÂ
Ant was clearly nonetheless depressed, with disappointment etched on his face always, and in crippling ache because of a botched knee operation. He was clearly nonetheless struggling with out stimulants. And he was grappling with the tough actuality of getting to finish his 11-year marriage to Lisa Armstrong.
After I enquired in regards to the whether or not his relationship with the Strictly Come Dancing make-up artist might survive, he would solely say: ‘All I can say in the mean time is that she’s been superb – incredible all through. She’s been very supportive. As has Dec. Time will inform (in regards to the marriage). It is very private, is not it.’
Instantly after the interview, Lisa went again to work and Ant went to stick with his mum in Newcastle.
I knew the wedding was successfully over, however it could take 5 months for Ant to substantiate publicly he was in search of a divorce.
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Simply two months after that, in March 2018, the horrible information emerged that Ant had been arrested for drink driving after hitting two automobiles in his Mini in South West London.
However by June, Ant had emerged from rehab once more and it was revealed he was relationship his former private assistant Anne Marie.
From that second on, his life was on the up.
That is not casting aspersions on Lisa, who had completed all she probably might, however such an sad union had develop into an enormous weight on Ant.
Ant’s second solo interview – once more with me – got here in January 2019.
By this time, he was genuinely a special man, proper all the way down to the Alcoholics Nameless image tattooed on his left wrist.
Ant and Anne Marie deserve essentially the most joyous of celebrations – they’re proof that love actually can conquer all, writes DAN WOOTTON (pictured)
Resolute, stone chilly sober, accountable for his life once more, deliriously pleased and, above the rest, utterly and completely in love.
Having been reluctant to speak about Lisa in our earlier interview, his eyes lit up when explaining how Anne Marie had saved him from himself, stressing they have been each single and in ‘turmoil’ after they realised they have been in love.
Talking from his coronary heart, he declared to me: ‘Anne-Marie actually is the basic motive for the nice change in my life. She’s been my rock. She’s a ravishing soul. We’re very pleased. I am in the most effective place I have been in my life, to be sincere with you. It is nice.’
And blasting criticism from Lisa that Anne Marie had damaged the woman code by beginning a relationship with Ant as ‘absolute garbage’, he fired again: ‘She is essentially the most great true lady. And the best way we’re and when folks see us collectively they’re going to see how sincere and type and pleased we make one another.’
In simply 18 months, Ant was a person reworked.Now not in denial in regards to the extent of his dependancy, because of Anne Marie, who had develop into his sober associate, he now had the assist system round him to remain off alcohol and medicines.
I used to be in little doubt their love was actual and would propel Ant again to the highest.
Fortunately, that is precisely how issues have turned out.
Regardless that the divorce from Lisa was torturous for Ant, with bitter recriminations leading to a settlement value tens of thousands and thousands, he has by no means veered off target.
It is an outdated cliché, in fact, however Ant burdened to me that cash hadn’t purchased him happiness. What had was a lady who he had identified in a private {and professional} capability for years, however who he fell in love with when the chips have been down.
Anne Marie is a loyal mum to her two kids to her ex, so their courtship has been a delicate one.
However this weekend, their love will triumph all as they tie the knot in a comparatively low-key ceremony surrounded by 100 shut pals – the individuals who actually matter.
Ant is aware of who his true pals are actually – the individuals who did not run a mile when he was sitting destitute in a jail cell.
And he additionally is aware of that with out the unwavering love of Anne Marie he could not have gotten via these hellish previous few years in any respect.
As Ant informed me of the key behind their particular bond: ‘It is magic is not it? Who is aware of. If I knew, I would bottle it.’
Ant and Anne Marie deserve essentially the most joyous of celebrations – they’re proof that love actually can conquer all.
