Ant McPartlin 'told off' by High Court judge for failing to turn up to divorce settlement hearing attended by ex-wife Lisa Armstrong

Hatty Collier5 November 2018

Ant McPartlin has been "told off" by a High Court judge for failing to attend a hearing for a divorce court fight over money with his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong.

The former couple are now locked into a legal wrangle over Ant’s estimated £60 million fortune, as well as custody of their pet Labrador, Hurley.

Ms Armstrong arrived at court on Monday morning to start legal arguments over money regarding their divorce settlement.

But McPartlin was not in court and was instead represented by lawyers. Mr Justice Mostyn said McPartlin should have been present.

The hearing was staged in private and Mr Justice Mostyn placed limits on what could be reported.

But he said journalists could name McPartlin and Ms Armstrong in reports of the hearing and that they could report that the TV presenter had been "told off" for not attending.

Lisa Armstrong arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice, to start legal arguments with her husband, Ant McPartlin, over money regarding their divorce settlement
PA

"Why is he not here?" Mr Justice Mostyn asked barrister Jonathan Southgate QC, who is leading McPartlin's legal team.

Ant McPartlin and Lisa Armstrong at the National Television Awards in January 2017
PA

"There isn't one law for the famous and one for the rest of the community.

"The rules say he was supposed to be here - and that can be reported."

Mr Justice Mostyn added: "He has been told off."

Ms Armstrong was granted a divorce last month over the TV presenter's adultery and because he was "intolerable to live with".

The I’m a Celebrity host, 42, and his make-up artist wife Ms Armstrong, 41, formally ended their 11-year marriage in the Central Family Court on October 16. They were granted a decree nisi in under 30 seconds.

Ms Armstrong was pictured arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday morning for legal argument with her husband over money regarding their divorce settlement.

The High Court judge is analysing issues relating to the division of assets.

Mr Justice Mostyn was overseeing a preliminary hearing in the Family Division of the High Court on Monday.

Lisa Armstrong arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice, to start legal arguments with her husband, Ant McPartlin, over money regarding their divorce settlement
PA

Mr Justice Mostyn considered issues relating to the reporting of any future hearings.

He ruled that detail relating to the pair's confidential financial information would not be permitted.

Further hearings are expected to take place in the near future.

Another judge has already drawn the pair's marriage to a close.

Ant McPartlin pictured with his girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett
SplashNews.com

Judge Alun Jenkins granted a decree nisi at hearing in the Central Family Court in London in October.

The presenter, who is one half of TV duo Ant and Dec, confirmed in January that he and his wife were splitting following months of speculation about their relationship.

In June it was reported that he had found love with personal assistant Anne-Marie Corbett, who used to be the couple’s PA.

It is believed the TV star has admitted adultery on the grounds that his relationship with Ms Corbett, 42, began after the break-up - but while he was still married.

Ant McPartlin and Lisa Armstrong in Pictures

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It is the latest step on a rocky road for McPartlin, who revealed last year that he had been battling a painkiller addiction that culminated in a spell in rehab.

The Saturday Night Takeaway host was caught drink driving following a car crash in March, two months after his split from Ms Armstrong was announced.

He was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £86,000 after admitting the charge, confessing that he had “let a lot of people down”.

After the drink drive arrest, he stepped away from his television commitments with co-presenter and friend Declan Donnelly, and has been replaced by Holly Willoughby on the next series of I’m a Celebrity….Get Me Out of Here!.

McPartlin first met his wife at a roadshow in Newcastle in the mid-1990s when Ms Armstrong was a singer in pop band Deuce.

They married in 2006, but rumours of trouble in their relationship began to surface last year.

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