There was a time when hunky TV presenter and car mechanic Ant Anstead didn’t think he’d find happiness again, but now his life is firmly back on track. And the British star credits not only his relationship with Bridget Jones’s Renee Zellweger but also his parents – who are an integral part of his new show – for getting him back into the fast lane.

Ant, who’s been married twice, and the Oscar-winning actress started dating after they met in April 2021 when she was a guest on his show Celebrity IOU: Joyride. He later joked, ‘Thanks, Discovery+. It’s actually me that owes you. And I can recommend Discovery+ dating service to anybody.’

Born in Plymouth but raised in Hertfordshire, Ant initially joined the police and became a member of the Tactical Firearms unit, but in 2005 he left to indulge his passion for cars. In 2014 he formed his own TV company to produce his show The World’s Most Expensive Cars, and has since fronted For The Love Of Cars with Philip Glenister, Master Mechanic and Wheeler Dealers. This week he returns to TV with a new show, Born Mechanic, and he believes his faith is what led him to the joy he has in his life today.

‘I always say you get what you pray for, and cool things happen when you least expect it. I’m very lucky and I’m really, really happy,’ he smiles, referring to his and Renee’s romance. ‘I like to think I walk in faith and I’m a member of a church. I grew up in a very Catholic family; my parents still go to church every week. I had a really blessed childhood. We’re a family of five kids and my parents did everything they could to provide for us even though their income was incredibly humble.

‘But my parents have lived a life that’s about giving. They were both in the New Year’s Honours list for the work they do for charity and community. I did what most teenagers would have done though, I rebelled and did the opposite. But during my time as an armed police officer I met the worst of humanity and it made me realise how important it is. With any setbacks in life, I’ve always turned to faith.’

And so for the first time, Ant has made his new series personal. His barn workshop is part of a dilapidated 500-year-old Bedfordshire farmhouse that he’s just bought for his parents to retire to. So as well as repairing cars, he’ll be renovating an old house, and to help fund it any profit he makes from the cars goes towards his mum and dad’s dream home.

But he can’t do it alone so he’s roped in family and friends to help. ‘A year ago I bought the house for my parents. It’s a scary leap for me as it’s this mad dream, and although this is my 26th TV show and I’ve been on TV for 11 years, it’s the first time I’ve exposed my family to the crazy world I’ve been living in.

‘But it’s such an honour to be able to give something back to two people who really empowered me. My mum and dad are currently living in this tiny, ex-council two-bedroom bungalow. They worked as catering managers in boarding schools so we never owned our home, we lived in schools. So this really is a dream come true.’

In the show Ant soon discovers that the only thing more unpredictable than restoring classic cars is renovating a heritage house. ‘What started off as a three-month makeover has turned into a five-year restoration after we started to peel away the kitchen and realised the whole rear end of the oak-framed house was condemned,’ he says. ‘But I’m totally committed even though it’s become financially hairy, because the business model of restoring cars to pay for the restoration is authentic.’

The car expert, 45, made America his home in 2017 in order to host Wheeler Dealers USA, but he’s enjoyed spending time back in the UK with Renee, 55, who’s been here filming the latest Bridget Jones movie. ‘I live in Laguna Beach in California and travel a lot but since I’ve been at the farmhouse I’ve seen my parents every day,’ he says. ‘The project has meant I’m now closer to them and my brothers than I’ve ever been.’ So does Renee appear in the new show? ‘She’s not in it as she’s been busy filming,’ he laughs.

The couple have been going from strength to strength in the three years they’ve been dating. And despite having been divorced twice, Ant isn’t ruling out a third marriage. ‘Despite my setbacks I still believe in the institution of marriage. My parents have been married for 52 years, they got married at 19. I’m inspired by their commitment to making that work,’ he says.

So perhaps it will be third time lucky…

Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic, Thursday, 9pm, Quest or stream on Discovery+.