Ant McPartlin has spoken publicly for the first time about the death of his beloved dog Hurley, describing the loss as 'tough' and revealing he has 'cried a lot'. The TV presenter and his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong were forced to make the heartbreaking decision to have the 11-year-old chocolate Labrador put to sleep earlier this month.
Speaking on his podcast 'Hanging Out with Ant and Dec', McPartlin said: 'He passed away in my arms. We were at the vet’s and we were all there to see him, all the family, everyone that he loved was there, and it was a very sad, but it was a very lovely moment when we all got to say goodbye to him.'
The Britain's Got Talent star admitted the period since Hurley's death has been 'awful'. He said: 'I'd cry in the middle of walks and I cried making their dog food because the bowls are next to his bowl, but it's been awful.'
McPartlin had reportedly rushed to join Armstrong at the vet hours after attending a press conference for Britain's Got Talent in London. The couple, who divorced in 2018, first adopted Hurley in 2013.
Armstrong, a makeup artist on Strictly Come Dancing, paid tribute to Hurley on social media earlier this week, sharing nostalgic photographs and a video montage. Celebrity friends including Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Emma Bunton sent their condolences.
