Ant McPartlin Shares Tearful Story About Beloved Dog Hurley's Final Moments
Television presenter Ant McPartlin has shared an emotional and deeply personal tribute to his late dog Hurley, revealing heartbreaking details about the chocolate Labrador's final moments. The 50-year-old I'm A Celebrity host made the difficult decision to put down his 12-year-old pet earlier this month after Hurley fell ill during filming for the Britain's Got Talent launch.
A Difficult Decision and Emotional Reunion
The sad occasion reportedly marked the first time McPartlin had come face-to-face with his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong in the eight years since their divorce. Both were present for Hurley's final moments, having previously navigated a tense custody battle over the beloved dog after their separation before ultimately agreeing to share him.
Hurley had been adopted in 2013 and played a significant role in McPartlin's life, even visiting him in rehab as emotional support during his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. The presenter has credited the dog with helping him through those challenging times, making the loss particularly devastating.
Heartbreaking Final Moments Revealed
Now, several weeks after Hurley's passing, McPartlin has opened up about those final moments for the first time on his new podcast, Hanging Out with Ant and Dec. Thanking fans for their support during his grieving process, he explained that Hurley's death came as "such a shock."
"He passed away in my arms," McPartlin told listeners emotionally. "We were at the vet's and we were all there to see him, all the family, everyone that he loved was there. It was a very sad moment, but it was also a very lovely moment when we all got to say goodbye to him."
The Painful Grieving Process
The mourning process has been exceptionally difficult for the television personality. "I've cried a lot," McPartlin admitted. "For anyone that's lost a pet that is beloved to them, then my heart goes out to you and I know how you feel because it's tough."
He also reflected on the daily reminders that trigger his grief, such as when he takes his two other dogs for walks or when he pours their dog food. Both instances have brought him to tears regularly since Hurley's passing. "It's been awful," he said simply.
Support from Fans and Ex-Wife
McPartlin reiterated his gratitude to fans who have approached him to share their condolences, noting that their support has been "really quite soothing and it does help." Meanwhile, his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong shared her own tribute to Hurley on social media approximately a week ago.
The makeup artist posted a montage of herself with Hurley from his early puppy days through to more recent times, set to the backing track of Tasha Bennett's Love Like This. Her celebrity friends flocked to share their support in the comments, with Sophie Ellis Bextor "sending lots of love" and Emma Bunton adding: "Sending love Lisa... I know how heartbreaking it feels to lose our fur babies."
The emotional story highlights the profound bond between pets and their owners, even among high-profile celebrities, and the genuine grief that accompanies such losses.
