Lisa Armstrong, the acclaimed make-up artist and former wife of television star Ant McPartlin, has reportedly found new love and happiness with actor Grant Kilburn. This development comes after several challenging years following her high-profile and acrimonious divorce.
A New Chapter Begins
Lisa Armstrong, 49, has begun a relationship with 34-year-old actor Grant Kilburn, whom she met through her connections to the hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing. The pair were introduced in early October after a performance of the play 2:22 A Ghost Story in Brighton, where Kilburn is a cast member. The introduction was facilitated by former Strictly champions Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton, who are close friends of Armstrong and star in the same touring production.
A source close to the couple revealed to the Daily Mail that "Lisa and Grant have really hit it off - and it's put the smile back on her face." The relationship is described as being in its early stages, with the couple opting to keep things low-key. "They are just enjoying spending time together," the source added, noting that Kilburn, who lives in Kent, has been staying with Armstrong in London when possible.
Overcoming Past Struggles
This new romance marks a significant positive turn for Armstrong, whose life was upended by her split from Ant McPartlin in 2018 after 12 years of marriage. The divorce was followed by a series of personal setbacks. In 2023, she split from boyfriend James Green, and a fire caused significant damage to her £5 million home in Chiswick. Earlier this year, she posted a reflective message on social media, stating: "You spent 2024 in survival mode. 2025 is your time to rise, rebuild, and thrive."
Meanwhile, her ex-husband Ant, 50, has remarried his former personal assistant, Anne-Marie Corbett, with whom he welcomed a son, Wilder, in 2023.
Grant Kilburn has also faced and overcome profound adversity. In April 2014, at the age of 23, he suffered a major stroke caused by two large blood clots at the base of his brain. The traumatic event led to years of anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. "I was convinced I was going to die," he recalled in a 2023 interview. With professional support, he has rebuilt his life and career, and now actively campaigns for the Stroke Association and men's mental health initiatives.
A Long History and a Public Split
Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin's relationship spanned more than 23 years in total. They first met as teenagers in 1994 on a Smash Hits tour in Newcastle and married in a lavish ceremony at Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire in July 2006. Their attempts to start a family were publicly discussed, with Ant revealing their struggles to conceive in media interviews.
The marriage faced severe strain when Ant entered rehab for addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs in 2017. The couple separated in January 2018, with Ant later admitting adultery. The divorce was finalised in October 2018. The split became increasingly public and bitter, particularly when Ant began a relationship with the couple's former PA, Anne-Marie Corbett. Armstrong famously liked a social media post calling it a "major girl code breach." A protracted dispute over custody of their chocolate Labrador, Hurley, also played out in the press.
Now, with a thriving career as head of make-up on Strictly Come Dancing and a promising new romance, Lisa Armstrong appears to be embracing her own mantra to rise, rebuild, and thrive in 2025.
