A Shared Farewell for a Beloved Dog
Ant McPartlin and his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong have found a way to honor their beloved dog, Hurley, after his passing. The brown Labrador, who passed away last month, has been cremated, and the couple has decided to split his ashes in half. This decision marks a unique moment of unity between the two former partners, despite their history of conflict.
The Daily Mail reports that both Ant and Lisa will hold private memorial ceremonies for Hurley. Their decision to divide the ashes reflects a mutual effort to celebrate their shared memories of the dog, who was a central part of their lives. The pair, who went through a bitter £30 million divorce battle following their 2018 split, reunited for the first time in eight years during Hurley’s final hours. This moment of connection highlights the deep bond they once had with their pet.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
After Hurley’s death, Ant and Lisa chose to grieve separately, with Ant traveling to Portugal and Lisa heading to Los Angeles. However, they worked together to ensure that Hurley’s remains were cremated and his ashes divided. According to a friend, the decision to share the ashes 50/50 was made to allow both parties to hold their own farewells.
“Ant has already collected his ashes, while Lisa intends to do likewise when she returns from her trip,” the friend said. It is likely that the ashes will be buried in their respective gardens, allowing them to continue honoring Hurley in their own ways.
Memories of a Loyal Companion
Ant recently shared how Hurley passed away in his arms, aged 12-and-a-half. The TV host described the experience as a “shock” and mentioned that all the family members were present at the vet during his final moments. Both Ant and Lisa agreed to have Hurley put down after being told he was too ill to recover from a recent illness.
Ant joined Lisa at the vet after working at ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent media conference in London. Insiders revealed that Lisa struggled to be with Hurley during his final moments, leaving Ant alone with the dog before he passed away.
Speaking about Hurley’s death on his new podcast, Ant expressed his deep grief: “He passed away in my arms. We were at the vet and we were all there to see him, all the family, everyone that he loved was there, and it was all very sad, but it was a very lovely moment when we all got to say goodbye to him.”
A Lasting Impact
Hurley was more than just a pet; he was a significant part of Ant’s life. He credited the dog with helping him overcome his addiction battles, including a stint in rehab in 2019. Ant often spoke about the loyalty and companionship Hurley provided, describing the bond as unexplainable.
“I came out of a shop the other day and there was a woman on the floor cuddling Hurley. She said to me, ‘It’s the dog from the papers!’ Hurley’s a celebrity,” Ant said, highlighting the dog’s popularity.
A Connection That Ended
Hurley was the last remaining link between Ant and Lisa. The childhood sweethearts married in 2006 and introduced Hurley into their lives in 2013, largely due to their struggle to have children together. After their split, the couple engaged in a custody battle over the dog, eventually agreeing to share him on a week-to-week basis.
Due to the animosity between them, Lisa’s mother and Ant’s PA were usually involved in transporting Hurley between their homes. Lisa was determined to win sole custody of the dog, especially as Ant had two other maltipoo dogs with his new partner, Anne-Marie Corbett, whom he married in 2021.
Now that Hurley has passed, Lisa has no further connection to Ant. An insider said, “Hurley was the only connection Lisa and Ant had, so his passing really is the end of an era. It’s unlikely they’ll ever speak or see each other again.”
