ANT McPARTLIN will make his I’m A Celebrity comeback this weekend, complete with trademark cheeky grin.
But behind the smile the 43-year-old will be on edge as negotiations in his bitter £62million divorce with ex-wife Lisa Armstrong have dramatically broken down.
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It is now increasingly likely their dispute could end up in a public mud-slinging showdown at the High Court in London — something Ant is desperate to avoid.
Today, we can reveal explosive details of the secret battle behind closed doors as their lawyers prepare for all-out war.
Sources close to Lisa’s camp say Ant’s side are sending regular legal letters, running up a massive bill thought to have already passed the £1.5million mark.
Ant’s legal team wants to avoid going to court, which could mean excruciating details of the couple’s 12-year marriage being made public.
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After his drink-drive crash in March last year, time in rehab for addiction to painkillers and relationship with his former PA Anne-Marie Corbett — who Lisa considered a friend — Ant has rebuilt his image and been given a second chance by the public.
In order to protect his reputation from further damage, he is asking Lisa, 43, to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) — and will not agree to a financial settlement until she does.
But Lisa is refusing to sign the so-called gagging order.
A source close to the couple told The Sun: “Lisa is an honest, loyal and decent human being. She isn’t interested in how much money she gets.
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“She told her dad Derek on his death bed earlier this year that she would stand strong and she’s not about to go back on her word.
“She won’t sign an NDA. As far as she’s concerned, he is welcome to his money.
“It’s not about that for her. She’s appalled at the way she has been treated ever since they split up, by people she loved, trusted and called friends.
“He is sending her regular lawyers’ letters. The legal bill for this divorce is easily past the £1.5million mark.
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“But Ant is underestimating her. She’s not scared any more.
“She is more determined than ever not to fold and to get what’s hers. She only ever wanted it to be fair.
“She doesn’t want to be the one to ruin his career, but enough is enough.
“She is labelled bitter and twisted and the truth is she wants this to end — but she won’t be silenced.
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“They were 19 when they met and they had nothing.
“She was doing the same as him — she was in a band, he was part of PJ & Duncan.
“Now, 23 years later, she needs to be gagged and told to go away?
“This is not just some pantomime or comedy show people can just laugh at and comment on. This is her life.”
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A source close to Ant revealed tonight that he has agreed to a second formal arbitration with Lisa.
They said: “All correspondence goes through their lawyers, which is what Lisa requested.
“Ant is not trying to pressure Lisa into signing an NDA. He will sign one too, of course.
“But he doesn’t want it going to court. Why would he? He’s made her an incredibly generous offer and is hoping that they can move on.”
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Another source added: “He was trying to get it all sorted before he headed to Australia.
“But it’s not been possible and he’s genuinely worried about what will happen if this ends up in court.
“Lisa is the only one who knows where all of his skeletons are buried.
“That’s why he is so keen to get her to sign an NDA. He cherishes his public image above all else.
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“He knows he’s been given a second chance by the public and doesn’t want anything to derail that. But Lisa won’t sign it. It’s not about revenge for her.
“She just won’t be silenced, simple as that.
“She will have her say, at a time of her choosing.”
On Monday night Lisa took to Twitter to insist she would not be “bullied”.
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She “liked” dozens of supportive tweets from followers telling her she was “dignified” and advising her “not to be pushed around”. She also tweeted, “Don’t believe the lies”, and, “I won’t be bullied”.
Sources close to Ant’s camp say Lisa has been offered an enormously generous settlement and he just wants the fight to be over, for everyone’s sake.
A source said: “It’s been two years and Ant wants them to both move on with their lives.
“He’s been more than generous with what he’s offered. He just wants it over now.”
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Lisa is currently living in their £6million former marital home in Chiswick, West London.
Ant has moved into a £6million home in Wimbledon, South West London, with new love Anne-Marie, 43, and her two children.
We can reveal Ant has not been allowed back into his marital home by Lisa from the moment he left rehab.
A source said: “Ant has been unable to return to inside his house. Lisa will not even let him back in to pick up personal belongings and things that are special to him.
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“So to suggest that he is being in any way unreasonable in all of this is completely wrong.”
If they end up in court a judge will decide how to split their assets, estimated to be around £62million.
A decision will also be made over the custody of their beloved five-year-old chocolate Labrador, Hurley. He spends alternate weeks with the pair.
One source said: “This has been going on for nearly two years. It’s been incredibly draining for both of them.”
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They split in January 2018, five months after Ant left rehab for a two-year addiction to painkillers and a battle with booze.
In April that year Ant was banned from the roads for 20 months and fined £86,000 for drink-driving after his Mini hit two cars in London.
He returned to rehab for further treatment and said he would take a break from TV presenting.
The Sun then revealed last June how Ant had found new love with Anne-Marie. Fuming Lisa claimed Anne-Marie had betrayed her, tweeting: “Yeah My Friend and OUR PA who I let into OUR home.”
Ant missed last year’s I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here! as he continued his recovery.
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Lisa Armstrong ‘desperate to divorce Ant McPartlin but fears Anne-Marie proposal’He was replaced by stand-in host Holly Willoughby, who teamed up with Declan Donnelly Down Under. Now he is ready to return to the Aussie jungle.
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