Ant McPartlin buys £5million pad to renovate as part of his recovery from prescription drug and alcohol addiction

The purchase means he will no longer live next door to his best friend and co-host Declan Donnelly, who will be a half hour drive away.

Lisa Armstrong, who was granted the first stage of divorce from the Saturday Night Takeaway host by a judge this week, is expected to remain in the marital property.

A friend revealed: “Ant is very excited about his new house.

“The next couple of months will be difficult for him, given he’s not in Australia with Dec for I’m A Celebrity.

“But this house provides him a fresh start.

"He is going to completely renovate it and make it his dream home.

“It’s a big project for him that he’s going to throw himself into before going back to work.”

Ant’s girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett will not move into Ant’s new house because she lives close by with her two children.

The friend added: “Ant and Anne-Marie are very happy but they’re taking things slowly.

“They’re not moving in together - she lives with her children.

"And there’s no engagement either.”

Ant left his marital home in Chiswick, West London last October, telling friends he needed “space” as he struggled to save his marriage with Lisa.

He moved into a rented £1.6million property just a few streets away from the £6million home he had lived with Lisa in.

But in May he relocated to a gated property in South West London for more privacy during his recovery after a second visit to rehab.

The £4.5million house, which he was believed to be renting for £12,000 a month, was eight miles away from his marital home.

A removal van was pictured removing the last of his belongings from the home he shared with Lisa in July.