The dog who helped Ant through his darkest days is gone — leaving two lives forever changed
Ant McPartlin was left devastated last night after rushing from a major television event to say goodbye to his beloved dog Hurley, who passed away following a sudden decline in health.
The heartbroken presenter — who has often credited the chocolate Labrador with helping him survive his battle with drink and drug addiction — is said to be “very upset” after the dog was put to sleep aged 12.
Ant was working at the launch of Britain’s Got Talent when he was forced to make a desperate dash to be with Hurley during his final moments.
A final goodbye at the vets
Ant joined his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong at a veterinary surgery on Thursday, after leaving the BGT media conference at the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho, London.
Vets explained the dog was too ill to recover, leaving the former couple with the agonising decision to have him put to sleep.
Ant, 50, and Lisa, 49, were both able to see Hurley beforehand, with Ant staying by his side as the dog peacefully slipped away.
Last night, the former couple were being comforted by close friends and family. Lisa later posted a poignant image on Instagram showing a girl releasing hearts into the sky — a quiet tribute to the pet she once called her “baby boy”.
The dog at the centre of a public battle
Hurley became one of Britain’s most recognisable celebrity dogs during Ant and Lisa’s highly publicised divorce in 2018, when the Labrador found himself at the centre of a bitter custody dispute.
The pair had adopted Hurley in 2013 after struggling to have children together, and both doted on him deeply.
Even as their £30 million marriage breakdown dominated headlines, both insisted the dog’s welfare came first.
Ant later said:
“Hurley’s welfare comes first and we both love him very much. That’s the way it is really.”
Eventually, the pair agreed to share custody, with Hurley spending time between their homes.
‘A love you can’t describe’
Ant has spoken movingly about Hurley’s importance in his life, particularly during his recovery from addiction.
In 2019, he said:
“There’s a loyalty and a love and a companionship with Hurley that you can’t describe.
He never tells me off and is always pleased to see me.”
He even joked about Hurley’s fame, recalling one moment when a stranger lay on the pavement cuddling the dog after recognising him from the papers.
“She said, ‘It’s the dog from the papers!’ Hurley’s a celebrity.”
Ant later named one of his companies after Hurley, underlining just how central the dog was to his life.
A life woven into theirs
Hurley was often seen being chauffeured between Ant and Lisa’s homes and appeared regularly on Lisa’s Instagram.
She marked his 11th birthday in June 2024 with a post calling him “my baby boy”, while her last public photo of him showed the dog relaxing on her bed for International Dog Day in August last year.
In one light-hearted clip, Lisa joked about Hurley refusing to move during a walk after receiving treats from a pub bar near her home.
“Just want to confirm Hurls is absolutely fine,” she wrote at the time.
“I was trying to get him home but he wouldn’t go past the pub as it has treats on the bar.”
Hurley also enjoyed trips to the groomers, holidays with Ant and his family, and was even allowed to visit Ant during rehab following his drink-drive conviction in 2018.
A moment that stopped everything
On Thursday, Ant appeared on stage at the BGT launch alongside judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell and KSI — but left immediately after to be with Hurley.
He was joined earlier in the day by long-time co-host and best friend Declan Donnelly, before the tragic turn of events.
A source said last night:
“He was such a beautiful dog. His love for Ant and Lisa was unconditional — and vice versa.”
Life after loss
After his split from Lisa, Ant began dating her former personal assistant Anne-Marie Corbett, whom he married in August 2021. The couple welcomed their son Wilder in May 2024 and now share two Maltipoo dogs, Milo and Bumble.
But for Ant and Lisa, Hurley will always hold a unique place in their lives — a constant through love, loss, recovery and heartbreak.
For many fans, he wasn’t just a dog.
He was family.
