ANT McPartlin and his estranged wife Lisa have been granted a divorce in under 30 seconds.

Judge Alun Jenkins, sitting at the Central London Family Court, granted the couple a decree nisi on Tuesday.

The 42-year-old, who is one half of Geordie TV duo Ant and Dec, confirmed in January that he and his wife were splitting following months of speculation about their relationship.

In a statement issued at the time, a representative said: "In response to the recent speculation in the media, Ant is very sad to announce that, after 11 years, he is ending his marriage to Lisa McPartlin.

"Ant asks for privacy at this difficult time, for both himself, Lisa and their immediate families.

"No further statement will be made."

The couple met at a roadshow in Newcastle in the mid-1990s while Lisa was an aspiring pop star in Deuce.

He has often spoken of their struggle to have children.

The couple's divorce is listed to be heard by a judge at the Central Family Court in London on Tuesday.

Last year, McPartlin entered rehab after struggling with a two-year addiction to super-strength painkillers following a knee operation in

2015.

In April he was banned from the road for 20 months and fined £86,000 for driving while more than twice the legal limit.

He later announced he is stepping back from TV commitments and will not appear on this year's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

McPartlin will be replaced by Holly Willoughby, who will host the show alongside Declan Donnelly from Australia later this year.

However, he could scoop the best TV presenter gong at the National Television Awards.

Ant and Dec are in the running for the title, at next year's ceremony, for Saturday Night Takeaway.