ITV star Ant McPartlin is said to be ‘distraught’ as he left the Britain’s Got Talent launch
08:22, 15 Feb 2026Updated 08:25, 15 Feb 2026
ITV star Ant McPartlin is said to be ‘distraught’ after the death of beloved dog Hurley(Image: Getty Images,)
Hurley, the cherished chocolate Labrador owned by Ant McPartlin and his former wife Lisa Armstrong, has sadly passed away. The beloved pet played a significant role in both their lives, with shared custody arrangements following their separation.
The Sun disclosed that the 50 year old presenter is “distraught” and hastily left the launch of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, which he co-hosts with Declan Donnelly, to be with Hurley. The 12 year old canine was reportedly too ill to recover. Lisa, who frequently shares photos of Hurley on her Instagram account, posted an image of a child releasing hearts into the sky on Saturday evening.
Ant, host of I’m A Celeb, once told The Sun: “There’s a loyalty and a love and a companionship with Hurley that you can’t describe. And he never tells me off and is always pleased to see me.” He also recounted an incident where a woman recognised Hurley from newspaper photos, joking about his fame.
Indeed, Hurley did have a modest brush with fame – initially due to his involvement in the split of his well-known ‘parents’, and later during a guest appearance on Steph’s Packed Lunch, brought onto the show by Lisa for a segment about dog-friendly beverages.
Following their divorce in 2018 after 23 years together – 11 of them married – Ant was adamant that they would share time with Hurley equally and always make decisions in the dog’s best interests.
(Image: SWNS.com)
The television presenter even christened one of his business ventures after his beloved pet – both he and Dec serve as directors of Hurley Promotions Ltd. The pair have also established a company named after Dec’s canine companion, Rocky Promotions Ltd.
Ant and Strictly makeup artist Lisa, who did not have children together, adopted the dog in 2013. Ant became a father for the first time in 2024, welcoming his first child, Wilder, with his second wife Anne-Marie Corbett.
In 2024, Ant shared snapshots of his furry companions to mark International Dog Day. Among them was Hurley, photographed lounging with a timepiece on his wrist. He captioned the post: “Dog dump (not that kind… get your mind out the gutter!)” The collection also featured Milo and Bumble, the Maltese and poodle crossbreeds belonging to Ant and his second wife Anne-Marie.
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