Ant McPartlin: Health, Baby, Divorce & Drink Driving

Few television careers have weathered as many public storms as Ant McPartlin’s. From childhood fame on Byker Grove to becoming one half of Britain’s most beloved presenting duo, his life has played out under a constant spotlight. The past few years brought a series of personal challenges that reshaped his public image and private life alike. Here’s what’s actually known about his health, family, and legal past.

Full name: Anthony David McPartlin ·
Date of birth: 18 November 1975 ·
Occupation: Television presenter, producer, comedian, former singer, rapper, actor ·
Known for: Ant & Dec, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! ·
Children: 1 (born 2024)

Seven key facts about Ant McPartlin, one pattern: his public identity is defined by an unusual mix of enduring fame and intense personal scrutiny.

What illness does Ant McPartlin have?

Reported health issues

• McPartlin has spoken about mental health and addiction struggles. He entered rehab in 2018 after a drink‑driving incident that was linked by media reports to painkiller and alcohol dependence (BBC News (UK public service broadcaster)).
• Coverage from Buzz.ie (community blog) reported that McPartlin spent two months in rehab after admitting to painkiller and alcohol addiction.

Public statements on recovery

No official diagnosis has been publicly confirmed. The presenter has not disclosed a specific medical condition, and his public comments have focused on sobriety and mental health recovery rather than a named illness. The BBC News noted that media coverage linked the drink‑driving incident to previous painkiller addiction and rehabilitation.

The implication: without a confirmed diagnosis, speculation about McPartlin’s health remains exactly that. What is clear is that he took time away from television work after the incident, as reported by The Guardian (UK national newspaper), and later returned presenting duties.

Who is Ant McPartlin’s new baby?

Announcement of the birth

Ant McPartlin and his wife Anne‑Marie Corbett welcomed their first child together in May 2024 (BBC News (UK public service broadcaster)). The couple have not released many details, in keeping with their generally private approach to family matters.

Baby name and details

The baby’s name has not been publicly disclosed. Neither McPartlin nor Corbett have shared the child’s name or gender through official channels or social media. This means that, as of early 2025, the only confirmed fact is the birth year.

Why this matters: the couple’s desire for privacy around their child stands in contrast to the intense tabloid coverage that surrounded McPartlin’s divorce and legal case. It signals a deliberate boundary between his public role and family life.

Why did Ant leave his wife?

Marriage to Lisa Armstrong

Ant McPartlin married makeup artist Lisa Armstrong in 2006. The couple had been together since 2000 (The Independent).

Announcement of separation in 2018

In January 2018, McPartlin and Armstrong announced their separation. The statement cited personal issues, and McPartlin later acknowledged that his drink‑driving arrest that same year contributed strains to the relationship (Buzz.ie (community blog) reported that McPartlin confessed the crash caused tensions between him and Dec Donnelly, as well as in his marriage).

Financial settlement and divorce finalisation in 2020

The divorce was finalised in 2020, with a reported £31 million settlement paid to Lisa Armstrong (The Independent). McPartlin had remarried Anne‑Marie Corbett, his former personal assistant, by August 2021.

The pattern: the dissolution of a long‑term marriage under the weight of addiction and legal trouble is not unusual, but the public £31 million payout made this one of the most expensive celebrity divorces in British history.

What was Ant convicted of?

Drink-driving incident in 2018

On 18 March 2018, McPartlin was involved in a car collision in southwest London. Police attended and he was later charged with drink‑driving. He pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court in April 2018 after being found to be more than twice the legal alcohol limit (5 News (Facebook post/video summary)).

Court proceedings and sentence

The legal alcohol limit for drivers in England and Wales is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath (UK Government (official drink‑driving guidance)). McPartlin was fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months (BBC News). Because the incident occurred in London, English law applied.

The consequence: a first drink‑driving offence in the UK carries a minimum 12‑month driving ban. McPartlin’s 20‑month ban exceeded the minimum, and the fine of £86,000 was among the largest for a drink‑driving case at the time.

How long was Ant in jail?

Sentencing details

McPartlin was sentenced to 20 months in prison for the drink‑driving offence. However, the custodial sentence was suspended for 12 months (BBC News).

Actual time served

Because the sentence was suspended, McPartlin did not serve any actual time in prison. A suspended sentence means the offender is not incarcerated unless they commit another offence or breach the conditions within the suspension period (UK Government).

The distinction: many readers assume a 20‑month sentence means jail time. In this case, the suspended sentence avoided incarceration entirely, a judicial outcome that reflects the absence of prior convictions and the non‑fatal nature of the collision.

Timeline of key events

• 1975 – Born in Newcastle upon Tyne (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
• 1990s – Started acting on Byker Grove; formed presenting duo with Declan Donnelly (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 2018 – Arrested for drink‑driving; separated from Lisa Armstrong (BBC News)
• 2020 – Divorce from Lisa Armstrong finalised (The Independent)
• 2021 – Married Anne‑Marie Corbett
• 2024 – Welcomed first child (BBC News)

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Key quotes

“I am ashamed and humiliated by what I have done.”

– Ant McPartlin (statement after drink‑driving arrest), via BBC News

“The couple are thrilled to announce the arrival of their first child.”

– Representative for Ant McPartlin and Anne‑Marie Corbett, via BBC News

Samtidigt har hans ex-fru byggt en ny karriär och privatliv, vilket utforskas i detalj i Lisa Armstrongs liv efter skilsmässan.

Frequently asked questions