Ant McPartlin's estranged wife has landed a job alongside his friend Stephen Mulhern on his new show.

Stephen Mulhern

Stephen Mulhern

Lisa Armstrong - who split from the presenter earlier this year - has been asked to be the make-up artist on the the forthcoming ITV series 'In For a Penny' after she recently returned from a holiday in the US.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Lisa has been taking a much-needed break in LA but it's time to get back to work.

"She's been with good friend Stephen Mulhern all week working on 'In For A Penny', but her pals are a surprised she's returned to the show given that it's Ant and Dec's production company that makes it."

Lisa previously worked on 'Saturday Night Takeaway' alongside Ant and his co-host Declan Donnelly, but she was forced to leave when the 42-year-old presenter said he wasn't happy having her there.

A source said at the time: "Lisa was always very popular among the rest of the team, as well as very professional. But producers just felt having her back this year would be awkward. She works with Stephen a lot and they're close, just as he's close with Ant and Dec. But because of the set-up at the studios it would be impossible for Lisa and Ant to avoid spending lots of time in the same room.

"Ant would never have asked for her to leave but in the circumstances the production team just felt it could be difficult so felt they couldn't invite her back on."

Lisa's new job comes after she shut down rumours that she's out of work now that she's not with Ant.

The make-up artist broke her silence on Twitter and wrote to her 132,000 followers: "Just for the record I've worked and got my own work for the last 15 years in my own name! #justsaying #businessasusual"