‘Can you imagine having to see that?’ Why Ant McPartlin’s ‘traumatised’ ex-wife Lisa Armstrong will be ‘distraught’ by his new tattoo is revealed by KATIE HIND after he announced baby news

Nestled against his left arm, Ant McPartlin’s dream comes true.

After so many years of longing to become a father, Geordie television presenter yesterday announced the birth of his son, Wilder Patrick McPartlin, at the age of 48.

The star posted a photo of himself cuddling the newborn on the joint Instagram account he shares with sidekick Declan Donnelly, writing alongside it: “Welcome to the family.”

Mr McPartlin continued: ‘Baby is beautiful, mum is a legend, sisters are over the moon. Dad’s a mess!’

He added that the boy was born at 8.54am on Tuesday.

Little Wilder has been described by friends as the ‘perfect final piece of the puzzle’ after he married his former personal assistant Anne-Marie Corbett, 46, three years ago.

Already loving stepfathers to Mrs Corbett’s daughters Poppy and Daisy, they had wanted to add to the family for a number of years. But friends of Mr McPartlin said it was ‘something he feared would never happen’ after years of trying to conceive with his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong.

One told the Mail: ‘Ant is over the moon. He has fame and a huge fortune, but what was missing was being a father.

‘He loves children and has wanted his own children for years. Now his life feels very complete.

‘Ant is that cheeky guy on telly, but it felt like something was missing. Wilder is his dream come true. He has been smiling from ear to ear for months and is looking forward to meeting the baby. He is extremely happy and very excited.”

The Mail can reveal that Mr McPartlin has been cheerfully telling his friends for several months that he is going to be a father.

And yesterday, the great and the good of the television industry welcomed Wilder to the world.

McPartlin’s BGT co-star Alesha Dixon posted on social media to congratulate the couple, as did Jamie Redknapp and Davina McCall.

Mr Donnelly is also said to be ‘excited’ for his best friend, who he has been seen longing to become a father. The star herself is a proud parent, to wife Ali Astall, of Isla, five, and Jack, one.

“So many people couldn’t be happier for them,” said another show business insider.

After all, it’s been quite a journey to parenthood for the Britain’s Got Talent presenter.

Mr McPartlin has always been open about his desire to become a father. Speaking in 2013, he revealed his and Lisa’s struggles, saying: ‘There’s a rumor going around that we do everything together and I’ll wait to have children until Dec finds himself Mrs Right.

‘I like that idea, but I’m afraid it’s not true. Lisa and I really want children. Tried. When you get older, it’s more difficult than you think. We’re on a break now, the first real one in fifteen years, so Lisa and I are trying to get pregnant… well, we’ve been trying for a while, so fingers crossed.’

Those who know Mrs Armstrong, who earlier this week revealed she had put the house she shared with Mr McPartlin up for sale for £4million, say she will be ‘deeply sad’ to see her ex-husband share news with the world.

She is said to have refused to believe it when she first saw pictures of Ms Corbett with a bump in the Ny Breaking in December. It was the baby she longed for with Mr McPartlin and friends say she feels ‘very wronged’ by him after fighting for several years to save him from his demons.

Ms Armstrong – a hugely successful make-up artist on Strictly Come Dancing – is likely to be even more distraught over the tattoo on Mr McPartlin’s left shoulder which he showed off on his social media post announcing Wilder’s birth.

An intricate tree contains inscriptions to Mrs Corbett, with a shortened version of her name, Amzie, at the top.

Then there are the names of his stepdaughters, Poppy and Daisy, as well as their dogs Milo and Bumble. Hurley, the chocolate Labrador he shares with his ex-wife, is not mentioned.

One of Ms Armstrong’s colleagues told the Mail: ‘Can you imagine having to see that if you’re Lisa?

‘It must have literally left her heartbroken. She tried so hard for their marriage, she tried so hard to save him and when they broke up, she was left without a baby.

‘It’s so very sad. It broke poor Lisa, she gave him 23 years of her life, pretty much her entire adult life. When Ant was going to become a father, he didn’t even have the decency to tell her. She had to read about it in the Mail.

‘What makes it all the more traumatic is that she and Anne-Marie were friends.’

It is not yet known if Wilder will be added to the tattoo, but it is very likely that he will.

After all, he is the final part of the love story for the couple, who first met while working for Mr. McPartlin and Ms. Armstrong as their personal assistant.

They started dating in late 2018, shortly after Ms Corbett split from her husband Scott Corbett.

Mr McPartlin divorced Ms Armstrong in September 2018 after checking into rehab for addiction problems.

The ITV star credits Ms Corbett with overcoming his alcohol and drug addiction following his arrest for drink driving.

In his groom’s speech at his wedding in Heckfield Place, Hampshire, he revealed that his new wife’s two daughters, Poppy and Daisy, call him Dad.

Speaking in 2019, Mr McPartlin described Ms Corbett as a “lifesaver” and said: “She has been my rock. She is a beautiful soul. Were very happy.

“I’m in the best place I’ve been in my life, to be honest. It is awesome.’