Ant McPartlin and his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong have divided the ashes of their beloved Labrador, Hurley, following his death last month. The former couple, who divorced in 2018 after 11 years of marriage, agreed to split the ashes 50/50, allowing each to hold their own farewell ceremony.
Hurley, aged 12, was put to sleep after becoming too ill to recover. Ant held the dog as he took his last breaths at the vets, surrounded by family. The pair, who had shared custody of the pet after their split, each left the country to grieve: Ant went to Portugal, while Lisa travelled to Los Angeles. They arranged for Hurley's cremation while abroad and collected their halves separately.
A source told the Daily Mail: 'Ant and Lisa agreed to share Hurley's ashes 50/50. It's a decision they felt was fair, and it means they'll both be able to hold their own farewells. Ant has already collected his ashes, while Lisa intends to do likewise when she returns from her trip.' The ashes will be buried separately so that both can regularly pay their respects.
Ant spoke about the loss on a podcast with his friend and co-host Declan Donnelly, saying: 'He passed away in my arms. We were at the vet, and we were all there to see him... it was a very lovely moment when we all got to say goodbye to him.' He added: 'I've cried a lot... for anyone who has lost a pet that is beloved to them, then my heart goes out to you.'
Ant credited Hurley with helping him through his addiction issues. The couple, who met as teenagers and married in 2006, were involved in a £30million divorce battle. Despite their feud, they continued to co-parent Hurley, avoiding seeing each other during handovers.
