After reports that bitterness between her and ex Ant McPartlin is thawing, Lisa Armstrong was snapped picking up their beloved dog Hurley last week in a show of further harmony between them.
Lisa, 43, showered the chocolate Labrador with affection after picking him up from Ant’s new £6 million home, where he lives with 43-year-old girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett.
And pals say Lisa – who refers to Hurley as her “baby boy” and faced a custody battle over him amid her divorce from Ant, 44 – is now keen to adopt a “sibling” for her four-legged friend.
The source says, “Lisa misses Hurley desperately during the weeks he’s at Ant’s, and after a friend adopted a rescue puppy from a local shelter, she’s decided to follow suit.”
Despite only communicating through lawyers since their 2018 split, insiders recently revealed the pair are back on civil terms and hand Hurley back and forth in person, instead of via a mediator.
The make-up artist – who allegedly received a £31 million settlement from the I’m A Celeb! presenter in October – was reportedly left heartbroken when Ant moved on with their PA just months after separating.
The source adds, “Letting go of the anger between her and Ant has been a huge weight off her shoulders. Now she’s free of that, she’s in a great place. She can’t wait to welcome another pup.”
Check out: Byker Grove cast - then and now
CLOSER Byker Grove then and now
1 of 15PJ & Duncan, Ant & Dec
Our favourite presenting duo, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, have become national TV royalty since they starred in the teenage soap drama for three years as PJ and Duncan. Who could ever forget the moment when poor PJ (Ant) lost his eyesight after a paintball game? The pair attempted to forge a music career, releasing three albums under their show names. Their version of Stepping Stone was a belter and we won't hear anything against it.
2 of 15PJ & Duncan, Ant & Dec NOW
Ant & Dec started presenting on SMTV Live with nostalgic sketches like Chums, Wonky Donkey and PokeRap. They went on to present HUGE Saturday night shows such as Pop Idol, I'm A Celeb, Britain's Got Talent and Saturday Night Takeaway. Unfortunately, Dec has had to recently fly solo after Ant was involved in a drink driving conviction. Holly Willoughby will take over Ant's place on the next series of I'm A Celebrity. We hope the pair get to reunite soon.
3 of 15Polly, Denise Welsh
Denise might be better known for her role as Natalie Horrocks in Coronation Street, but before clopping around the cobbles she appeared in a handful of Byker Grove episodes as Polly.
4 of 15Polly, Denise Welsh NOW
Nowadays she is better known for her Celebrity Big Brother appearance, as well as her role on Waterloo Road and her presenting slot on daytime panel, Loose Women. In fact, she recently rejoined the lunchtime TV ladies after a five year hiatus.
5 of 15Nicola Dobson, Jill Halfpenny
Jill Halfpenny became a Byker Grove favourite when she was just 14 years old, playing the entertaining Nicola Dobson.
6 of 15Nicola Dobson, Jill Halfpenny NOW
She went on to appear in a host of soaps, including EastEnders and Coronation Street, and has won various awards for her performances on the West End stages in Chicago and Legally Blonde. Oh - and she won Strictly Come Dancing. Is there any end to her talents?
7 of 15Charlie Charlton, Donna Air
Charlie Charlton was played by Donna Air who first graced the show at the tender age of 10.
8 of 15Charlie Charlton, Donna Air NOW
The actress, television presenter and fashion enthusiast has had loads of jobs since her Byker Grove days. She presented The Big Breakfast, starred in Hollyoaks and even had a part in blockbuster movie, The Mummy Returns. She was also the seventh person to leave Dancing on Ice 2018.
9 of 15Ben Carter, Andrew Hayden-Smith
Andrew Hayden-Smith entered the show as the hearthrob Ben Carter and made his first appearance in 1995.
10 of 15Ben Carter, Andrew Hayden-Smith NOW
When his days at Byker Grove were over he went on to present Live and Kicking and had a four-year career presenting CBBC. Andrew also had a role in Doctor Who and used to write a column for Attitude magazine. We last saw him as crooked cop DS Craig Armstrong who met a grisly end in Hollyoaks.
11 of 15Jason, Charlie Hunnam
Charlie Hunnam played Jason in three episodes of Byker Grove after being spotted by a producer in a shoe shop.
12 of 15Jason, Charlie Hunnam NOW
The English actor has since starred alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names in some silver screen productions, including Nicholas Nickleby, Cold Mountain and Green Street. He also played Jax in the HUGELY popular drama series Sons of Anarchy. Nice work, Charlie.
13 of 15Spuggie, Lyndyann Barras
One of the most famous faces of Byker Grove, Spuggie was played by Lyndyann Barras, who featured on the show for four years.
14 of 15Spuggie, Lyndyann Barras NOW
Despite not getting many memorable TV jobs after she left the teen soap, Lyndyann takes smaller acting jobs and is a mother of two.
15 of 15Laura Norton, Sam NOW
Laura Norton had a teeny-tiny role in Byker Grove, appearing as an extra called Sam in three episodes during 2014. She not plays Kerry Wyatt in the ITV soap Emmerdale. Alas, her BG role was so small that we don't even have a still shot for you.
Watch: What are Ant and Dec really like? | Britain's Got Talent secrets with Rosie O'Sullivan
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Lisa and Ant's divorce was finalised in January, following a public and often acrimonious break-up.
But despite the feud between exes – with Lisa openly venting her frustration and heartbreak on her Twitter feed – the make-up artist seemed to have offered an olive branch by liking a tweet by Ant’s best pal and co-presenter Dec Donnelly from his and Ant’s joint account last month.
After the return of their popular show Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Dec wrote, “Thanks for all the lovely messages, we’re so happy you enjoyed... It’s great to be back!”
Sources recently told Closer that Lisa is now keen to put animosity behind them so she can move on. She is also apparently looking to sell the former couple’s £5 million marital home, in a bid for a fresh start.
Read even more exclusive celeb stories in this week's Closer magazine which you can subscribe to, read a digital version, and is still available in the shops.