It's been nearly six years since Ant McPartlin's messy divorce from ex-wife Lisa Armstrong was finalised. But the pair recently came together in their grief as they said goodbye to their beloved dog.

Ant, 50, shocked fans when he announced in January 2018 that he was divorcing his wife, celebrity make-up artist Lisa. The couple, who had been together for 23 years, were living in a £6million home in Chiswick, West London, with their adored Labrador Hurley when they filed for divorce.

What followed was a bitter custody battle, which resulted in them agreeing to share Hurley.Ant and Lisa adopted the beloved pooch after struggling to have children, and absolutely doted on him. Speaking in an interview at the time, Ant said, "There's a loyalty and a love and a companionship with Hurley that you can't describe. We still share quite evenly. Hurley's welfare comes first and we both love him very much."

• Ant McPartlin 'leaves UK as he can't bear to see dog Hurley's toys' after heartbreaking death

• Lisa Armstrong shares sassy Valentine's post as she reels from dog Hurley's death

But Strictly head of make-up Lisa was reportedly deeply upset at the arrangement, with her 'baby boy' Hurley her one constant as she dealt with the pain of her divorce.

The issue of caring for their beloved dog was reportedly so fractious that it caused Ant and Lisa to have a major falling out. In January 2018, Ant was arrested after drunkenly crashing his car in Richmond, following reports they'd had a blazing row over the custody arrangements for Hurley.

Lisa told a friend she had spoken to Ant over whose turn it was to look after the Labrador. The pal said at the time: "Lisa was at home with her dad when Ant rang. The conversation quickly got heated – it was to do with who should have Hurley next, as they are meant to be sharing custody. It quickly descended into angry words and swearing between them," they added.

Lisa's father Derek was forced to intervene, the friend claimed. They said: "At one point, Lisa's dad took the phone out of Lisa's hand and firmly told Ant, 'Don't you dare speak to my daughter like that'."

But one of Ant's pals claimed at the time: "Lisa is no angel in this. She would have been giving it back, and then some. There have been so many arguments over Hurley. It's been rooted in the fact Lisa refused to believe the marriage was over."

Ant's chauffeur was said to have driven the dog between their respective houses so they didn't have to see each other for years. But in 2023, after Ant got two maltipoos - Bumble and Milo - with wife Anne-Marie, Lisa reportedly demanded full custody of Hurley.

A source told the Daily Mail: "Lisa has asked to have Hurley but Ant is saying no. He has two more dogs now, a new wife and two stepdaughters, but still he wants joint custody. It has led to some difficult conversations between Ant and Lisa. It's all very sad. Ant has been able to move on, get remarried and get two more dogs. Lisa has been left to pick up the pieces."

To add insult to injury, Ant's new wife Anne-Marie had previously worked as the couple's PA, and following her marriage to Ant in 2021, he became a step-father to her two daughters. Lisa, who like Ant had struggled when the couple were unable to have children together, then had to deal with undoubted heartache when Ant and Anne-Marie welcomed a baby, Wilder, in May 2024.

A friend told the Mail: "Lisa had to watch Ant move on with a woman Lisa regarded as her friend and that was devastating. But then he got two more dogs and at that point Lisa thought it would be fair to request Hurley live with her full time. Ant wouldn't allow it.

"She was both cross and very, very upset. It was cruel, plain cruel. After everything she did for him and him walking away, she just hoped he might do the decent thing but he didn't. There have been times since Lisa's split from Ant when she's felt like Hurley was all she had, while he strolled off into the sunset with another woman and set up home. But still, he refused, it was a big no no."

Following Hurley's sad death, Ant and Lisa found themselves face to face for the first time in eight years - and the reunion was far from harmonious, it would seem.

According to reports, Ant and Lisa met in the consulting room of a vet's surgery in west London last Thursday afternoon - where they received the heartbreaking news that their 12-year-old chocolate labrador was grievously ill, and there were no treatment options left for him.

It's believed Ant, 50, rushed out of the press launch of Britain's Got Talent in London's Soho where he'd been meeting press alongside Declan Donnelly, Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden, to meet his ex.

Both, understandably, were inconsolable - but if their shared pain might have led to a new era of harmony between the warring exes, it seems that hope couldn’t have been further from the truth. A source claimed to the Daily Mail that there is “too much hurt, too much has happened".

Lisa looked like she may have moved on and found lasting love herself following her devastating split from Ant, but her own lovelife has not been so smooth.

After a few significant relationships, she was most recently dating actor Grant Kilburn - who she was introduced to by her former Strictly colleague Kevin Clifton, and who is 15 years her junior, but recent reports suggested the couple havealready called it a day.

And on Valentine's Day last Saturday, Lisa left followers on social media inlittle doubt as to how she was feeling as she posted, “Roses are flowers, pebbles are stones, here's a big shout out to those on their own. Count yourself lucky and try not to sob, look at the bright side, you're not with a kn*b."