Ant McPartlin’s Heartbreaking Final Dash: Presenter Rushes From Britain’s Got Talent to Say Goodbye to Dog Who Helped Save His Life

The emotional farewell that brought everything full circle — addiction, divorce, loyalty and one last goodbye

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Ant McPartlin is said to have made a desperate last-minute dash from Britain’s Got Talent after learning his beloved dog Hurley was “too ill to recover” — racing to the vets to be by his side before the heartbreaking final decision was made.

The presenter, 50, reportedly rushed out of a BGT press conference in London after vets warned that Hurley, aged 12, could not be saved. Ant is understood to have gone straight to say his goodbyes before the dog was put to sleep.

According to The Sun, Ant’s ex-wife Lisa Armstrong — who previously shared custody of Hurley — is believed to have been at the veterinary clinic at the same time, marking an emotionally charged moment given their fraught history.

Hurley was more than just a pet to Ant. The dog became a constant presence during the darkest chapter of his life, standing by him through his highly publicised drink and drug addiction and the painful breakdown of his marriage to Lisa in 2018.

At the height of his struggles, Ant’s career appeared to be in ruins after he was arrested for drink-driving near his London home. He was later handed a record £86,000 fine, believed to be the highest ever issued by a British court for the offence.

At the time, Ant was pictured looking dishevelled and shaken after crashing into a BMW following a walk with his dogs in Richmond Park — images that shocked fans and marked a turning point in his life.

Speaking in a 2019 interview after completing rehab, Ant openly credited Hurley with helping him survive that period.

“There’s a loyalty and a love and a companionship with Hurley that you can’t describe,” he said at the time.
“He never tells me off and is always pleased to see me.”

He even recalled strangers recognising the dog from newspaper coverage, joking: “Hurley’s a  celebrity.”

So strong was Ant’s bond with the dog that, in 2017, he reportedly argued to have visits from Hurley while in residential rehab — even though he was unable to see Lisa at the time.

When Ant and Lisa eventually split after 11 years of marriage, Hurley became the centre of a bitter custody battle. Ant is said to have refused to give up full custody, reportedly telling lawyers: “She can have anything she wants — except the dog.”

The unusual arrangement later saw Ant’s chauffeur ferrying Hurley between the former couple so they wouldn’t have to see each other face-to-face.

The pair adopted Hurley in 2013 after struggling to have children during their 13-year relationship. Lisa frequently shared photos of him on Instagram, affectionately calling him her “baby boy”. Her final post featuring Hurley showed him curled up on her bed on International Dog Day last August.

Since then, both have moved on with their lives in very different directions.

Ant married his former personal assistant Anne-Marie in 2021 and became a father for the first time in May 2024, welcoming son Wilder. The couple also share two Maltipoos, Milo and Bumble.

Lisa, meanwhile, is reported to have split from actor boyfriend Grant Kilburn last month, just weeks after friends said she was “happier than ever”. A source later described the breakup as “very sad”, saying simply: “It wasn’t to be.”

In recent years, Lisa had spoken about rediscovering her independence and confidence after years of feeling she “played second fiddle” in relationships.

Now, Hurley’s death has quietly closed a chapter that linked Ant and Lisa through love, loss and survival — a final reminder of the dog who stayed loyal when everything else was falling apart.