Anyone who has followed the Strictly Come Dancing make-up chair knows Lisa Armstrong’s name — but her life away from the glitter and powder has been its own slow-burn story. From a high-profile divorce with TV presenter Ant McPartlin to a reported new romance with actor Grant Kilburn, the 49-year-old make-up artist has been quietly rewriting her narrative.
Full name: Lisa Marie Armstrong ·
Born: 25 October 1976 ·
Profession: Make-up artist, former singer (Deuce) ·
Ex-husband: Ant McPartlin (married 2006, divorced 2020) ·
Current partner: Grant Kilburn (as of Dec 2025) ·
Notable work: BBC Strictly Come Dancing make-up designer
Quick snapshot
- Married Ant McPartlin 2006–2020 (Wikipedia)
- Works as make-up designer for BBC Strictly Come Dancing (IMDb)
- Reportedly dating actor Grant Kilburn as of Dec 2025 (Daily Mail)
- Sold former marital home in June 2026 (Mirror)
- Identity of ‘Frederic’ in some search queries — not verified in any provided source (Wikipedia)
- Exact reason for split remains Ant’s subjective admission (Wikipedia)
- Current relationship status with Grant Kilburn disputed by later reports (Mirror)
- Exact timeline of the Kilburn relationship relies on a single Daily Mail report from Dec 2025 (Wikipedia)
- 1976: Born in Oxford, England (Wikipedia)
- 2006: Marries Ant McPartlin (Wikipedia)
- 2018: Ant enters rehab; couple separates (Wikipedia)
- 2020: Divorce finalized (Wikipedia)
- Dec 2025: Reportedly begins dating Grant Kilburn (Daily Mail)
- June 2026: Sells marital home, cuts ties (Mirror)
- Continued role on Strictly Come Dancing for 2026 season (see Katie McGlynn’s Strictly story)
- Potential further reports on relationship status (see Katie McGlynn’s Strictly story)
- Ant McPartlin’s ongoing sobriety and public life (see Angela Rippon’s profile)
Six key facts capture the arc of Lisa Armstrong’s story from her early career to her current chapter.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lisa Marie Armstrong |
| Born | 25 October 1976 |
| Profession | Make-up artist, former member of Deuce |
| Ex-husband | Ant McPartlin (married 2006–2020) |
| Current Partner | Grant Kilburn (since 2025, per reports) |
| Notable Work | BBC Strictly Come Dancing |
Is Lisa Armstrong in a relationship?
Who is Lisa Armstrong’s new partner?
- As of December 2025, Lisa Armstrong was reportedly in a relationship with actor Grant Kilburn, as first reported by Daily Mail. The publication described Kilburn as a 34-year-old theatre performer who was appearing in the play 2:22 A Ghost Story.
- The introduction reportedly happened through mutual friends Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton after a theatre performance in Brighton in early October 2025.
- However, later reporting from Mirror in 2026 suggested the pair had already split, describing the relationship as having ended “the month before publication.”
Are Lisa and Frederic still together?
- No verifiable information about an individual named “Frederic” appears in the provided sources. This query appears to originate from unverified search data and should be treated as speculation.
The relationship timeline with Grant Kilburn illustrates a classic celebrity-media pattern: a romance is reported, celebrated, and then quietly contradicted by later reports — all within 12 months. Readers should treat any single-sourced relationship update as provisional.
The pattern: a single-sourced romance story can shift quickly. As of the latest reporting, Armstrong appears to be single again — but the public record remains thin.
What is Ant’s ex-wife doing now?
Lisa Armstrong’s career as a make-up artist
- Lisa Armstrong has worked as a make-up designer for BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing since at least 2013, according to her IMDb profile, which credits her with 311 episodes. A behind-the-scenes feature on HuffPost UK identified her as the show’s makeup director, giving a rare glimpse into her craft.
- Her career began in the late 1990s as a singer in the girl group Deuce, which scored a UK top-20 single in 1996.
Lisa Armstrong’s recent news (selling house, cutting ties)
- In June 2026, Mirror reported that Armstrong sold the former marital home she had shared with Ant McPartlin and severed ties with her ex-husband. The report quotes sources saying she was “delighted” to move on completely.
Selling the house represented the final financial and emotional link to her marriage. For someone who spent 14 years as Mrs. Ant McPartlin, the sale in June 2026 is the clearest signal yet that Armstrong is building a life entirely independent of her former identity.
The implication: Armstrong’s professional identity has outgrown her tabloid label. The house sale was the final step in a process that began years ago.
Why did Ant leave his wife?
Ant McPartlin’s admission of real reason
- Ant McPartlin has publicly expressed regret over the breakdown of his marriage, citing his drinking problem and career pressure. According to Mirror and Wikipedia, McPartlin admitted that his alcohol addiction took a heavy toll on the relationship.
- The couple separated in 2018, and the divorce was finalized in 2020.
Role of alcohol and rehab
- McPartlin entered rehab in 2018 following a high-profile drink-driving incident. He has since spoken publicly about how treatment helped him achieve sobriety. Wikipedia notes that he has been sober since 2018.
While McPartlin has framed the split as a consequence of his addiction, this remains a subjective, first-person account. No independent source has corroborated the precise chain of events from Armstrong’s perspective.
The catch: McPartlin’s version of events is one side of the story. Armstrong has never publicly detailed her own account of the breakup.
When did Ant leave Lisa?
Timeline of their separation and divorce
The timeline below maps the key dates from Lisa Armstrong’s birth to her final severance from Ant McPartlin.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 25 October 1976 | Lisa Armstrong born in Oxford, England. |
| 2006 | Marries Ant McPartlin. |
| 2018 | Ant McPartlin enters rehab; couple separates. |
| 2020 | Divorce finalized. |
| December 2025 | Reportedly begins relationship with actor Grant Kilburn. |
| June 2026 | Sells former marital home, cuts ties with Ant McPartlin. |
The pattern across nearly two decades: marriage, addiction crisis, divorce, silence, then a fresh start.
Why did Ant stop drinking?
How rehab helped Ant McPartlin
- Ant McPartlin checked into rehab in 2018 after his arrest for drink-driving. According to Mirror and Wikipedia, the treatment marked a turning point. He has since said that rehab helped him confront the pressure of his career and his drinking.
Ant’s sobriety journey
- McPartlin has been sober since 2018 and has spoken openly about the role that therapy and support networks played in his recovery. In interviews he has credited his second wife, Anne-Marie Corbett, with helping him stay on track.
“I was in a dark place and I needed help. Rehab saved my life.”
– Ant McPartlin, as quoted by Mirror
Sources described Lisa Armstrong as “delighted” to have finally cut the last tie to her former marriage.
– Mirror, June 2026
The pattern: McPartlin’s public narrative has consistently linked his sobriety to his recovery journey, with his second marriage framed as a stabilizing force.
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For a detailed look at her journey, you can read more about Lisa Armstrongs life after divorce.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Lisa Armstrong?
Lisa Armstrong was born on 25 October 1976, making her 49 years old as of 2025.
What is Lisa Armstrong’s Instagram handle?
Lisa Armstrong is active on Instagram under the handle @lisaarmstrongmakeup, where she posts behind-the-scenes content from Strictly Come Dancing and personal updates.
Does Lisa Armstrong have children?
No, Lisa Armstrong does not have children. Neither she nor Ant McPartlin had children during their marriage.
Where is Lisa Armstrong now?
Lisa Armstrong continues to live in the UK and works as the make-up designer for BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. She sold the former marital home in June 2026 to fully move on from her past life with Ant McPartlin.
What TV shows has Lisa Armstrong worked on?
Her most prominent TV credit is BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, where she has worked as a make-up designer since 2013, contributing to over 311 episodes according to IMDb.
Is Lisa Armstrong still friends with Ant McPartlin?
No, the two are not friends. After their divorce in 2020, they have led separate lives. In June 2026, the Mirror reported that she sold their former marital home and cut all ties.
What is Lisa Armstrong’s net worth?
Net worth figures for Lisa Armstrong are not publicly confirmed by reliable financial sources. Estimates vary widely in unverified celebrity wealth databases and should be treated with caution.
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Craig Newton is Senior Reporter at ScopePress.uk, covering breaking technology news and consumer tech stories across the UK.