She posted a series of cryptic messages following reports that her ex-husband, Ant McPartlin, has confirmed to friends that he is expecting his first child with his wife, Anne-Marie Corbett.
And pals say Lisa Armstrong, 47 – who was married to the 48-year-old BGT host for 12 years – is now preparing to finally make a move to LA before the baby’s arrival, believed to be in June.
A source says, “Lisa has understandably been hit hard by the news and, despite preparing herself after weeks of rumours, has been completely floored by the reality; the man she desperately tried to start a family with for so long is getting his baby dream with another woman.
“To make matters worse – a woman she’d once thought was her friend.
“Lisa has toyed with the idea of moving to LA for a while now, but after hearing the news she’d been dreading, she’s decided to set her plan into motion and uproot before the baby comes.
“Having to look at pictures of them playing happy families – with the possibility of a pregnancy publicity shoot and another one upon the baby’s arrival – is too much for her to bear. She’s determined to get out of the UK and make a fresh start Stateside, away from all this heartache.”
Insiders previously told Closer how the make-up artist – who has described LA as her “happy place” – was considering a move following her 2018 split from Ant after 23 years together.
Six months after their shock divorce announcement, she fled to California when Ant’s romance with her former pal and PA, Anne-Marie, 46, went public – leaving her feeling “betrayed” as she told one fan on Twitter, “To think she was MY friend”.
Lisa stayed with her best friend and former bandmate from ’90s group Deuce, Craig Robert Young, and she has since been back for secret work meetings in a reported bid to crack the States following the success of her show, Glow Up, which aired on Netflix in the US.
Despite putting her LA plans on hold after falling in love with dad-of-two James Green, pals say their bitter split, coupled with Ant’s baby news, has cemented her longing to finally make the move.
The source adds, “There’s only so many times Lisa can endure having the knife twisted. She’s done her best to move on but it’s impossible while Ant and Anne-Marie’s happily-ever-after plays out so publicly.
“Lisa’s sick of being painted by some as the bitter, scorned woman in all this and just wants to set herself free from the past. She’s hoping that a fresh start in LA surrounded by some of her favourite people in the world will be just what she needs to finally draw a line under all this pain and hopefully she can now focus on finding her own happily-ever-after.”