Fans tuning in to the January 19, 2025, episode of The Flip Off are in for a long-awaited onscreen reunion. In an unexpected twist, HGTV star Christina Haack invites her second husband, British TV personality Ant Anstead, to serve as a guest judge in her latest flipping showdown. The competition pits Haack against her co-stars—her first husband, Tarek El Moussa, and his wife, Heather Rae El Moussa.
Anstead, who married Haack in December 2018, previously appeared on her HGTV show Christina on the Coast during their time together. The former couple welcomed their son, Hudson, in September 2019, but their relationship ended when Haack filed for divorce the following summer.
By 2022, they found themselves locked in a heated custody dispute over Hudson. However, in September 2024, Haack and Anstead announced they had reconciled as co-parents, emphasizing their commitment to fostering a positive relationship for their son’s sake.
Many fans were stunned when Haack invited Anstead to appear on The Flip Off. On January 19, she shared an Instagram video of Anstead reacting to her unexpected request, calling it “bizarre.” Adding to the intrigue, Haack captioned the post, “All’s fair in love and war… tune in tonight! #TheFlipOff just got spicier.”
Fans Are Pumped for What Ant Anstead Called His ‘Weird’ Assignment
Standing inside the home Christina Haack is renovating for The Flip Off, Ant Anstead recorded a candid selfie video, reflecting on the unexpected situation of appearing on TV alongside his ex-wife.
“This is kind of a bizarre day for me,” Anstead began, speaking directly into the camera. “I got asked by somebody I know relatively well to step into a TV show and do them a favor.” He paused before smirking, letting the implication settle in.
Referring to Haack’s surprising request to have him judge the January 19 episode, he continued, “And, yeah, it feels really weird.” Briefly panning the camera, he captured Haack sitting casually on the couch in the newly renovated living room, watching him with amusement.
“Because that person is currently sitting on the couch, looking—pretending like she’s working,” he teased.
“But that’s it, that’s all you’re gonna get. But I advise that you tune into the show. It’s called The Flip Off.”
With a knowing grin, Anstead added, “It involves that lady and another couple. That’s not awkward, is it?”
The playful video quickly caught the attention of fans—and even Haack’s first husband, Tarek El Moussa. Sharing Anstead’s video in his Instagram Stories, Tarek jokingly weighed in with the caption, “It’s getting weird this week…👀😂”
Fans flooded the comments with excitement over the former couple’s onscreen reunion, with one user writing, “The plot twist we didn’t know we needed 😂” Another comment, which racked up over 1,000 likes, praised their ability to remain amicable: “I fkin love this! Adults that are adulting and not acting like children, even though they’re separated. I love it—very mature, very demure.”
Since their divorce and a highly publicized custody battle over their son Hudson, Anstead has moved on with Bridget Jones star Renée Zellweger, while Haack married Josh Hall. Interestingly, Hall was initially part of The Flip Off but exited after he and Haack filed for divorce in July 2024.
Christina Haack Explains How She & Ant Anstead Got Back on Good Terms
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In a preview shared by HGTV, Christina Haack revealed the moment she decided to bring her ex-husband, Ant Anstead, onto The Flip Off as a guest judge. While discussing the idea with her design partner, Kylie Wing, Haack admitted that part of her motivation was to throw her first ex-husband, Tarek El Moussa, off balance.
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“I just love to mess with Tarek,” she said with a grin. “He’s gonna be so thrown off when I say that the judge is Ant.”
The preview also featured an interview segment where Haack reflected on her evolving relationship with Anstead and the challenges they faced over the years.
“Ant is my second ex-husband,” she explained. “He’s also the father of my third child, Hudson. He’s an engineer and a car builder. If Ant were a judge, it would definitely surprise Tarek—let’s just say it would be shocking—because he’s well aware of some of the issues Ant and I have had over the years.”
Haack opened up about their past struggles, recalling how their communication had been strained following their split.
“Ant and I split up when Hudson was one, and now Hudson is five,” she shared. “Between his first birthday and his fifth, we barely communicated. But after Josh and I split up, I went over to Ant’s house to pick up Hudson for a birthday party. When I walked up to the door, he gave me a huge hug.”
The unexpected moment of kindness caught Haack off guard.
“We hadn’t hugged in years,” she said. “And he just said, ‘I’m so sorry for everything that you’re going through, and I’m here for you no matter what you need.’ It was a really nice moment. We ended up having a long conversation and decided to put all the B.S. aside to be good co-parents—just like Tarek and I are—for Hudson.”
The Flip Off episode featuring Anstead as a guest judge, titled “The Ex Factor,” is set to premiere on February 19 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, with a re-airing on February 20 at 7 p.m. Eastern.