Eamonn Holmes & Ruth Langsford had been ‘separated for a year’ but TV stars ‘wanted to keep it secret’, friends say

EAMONN Holmes and Ruth Langsford had reportedly been "separated for a year" but wanted to "keep it secret", friends say.

The former TV power couple revealed exclusively to The Sun on Sunday earlier today they had split up and would seek a divorce.

A spokesperson for Eamonn and Ruth confirmed the break up, with sources saying that work had "taken them in different directions".

It is understood, though, that the duo are still on good terms and want to "keep things amicable" between them.

Now, pals have claimed that the relationship has actually been over for more than a year amid Eamonn's health struggles.

Ruth previously admitted that strain was placed on the relationship as her hubby battled chronic back issues, which left him confined to a wheelchair for a time after a botched op.

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing.

Spokesperson for the couple

He is still receiving daily physiotherapy and uses either a chair or cane to get about.

One source told : "Ruth and her team have been telling their friends to look out for the comments, which they are planning to put on social media.

"It's a very sorry tale.

"They are both so loved by the British public, they won over so many people on This Morning which they hosted for more than a decade."

The paper also reports that the couple were "determined" to keep their separation under wraps until now.

They have called it quits after 14 years of marriage, first meeting through friend and fellow GMTV star Sally Meen in 1997.

Until the split, they lived together in Surrey parenting their son Jack, now 22.

Eamonn also has three children from his previous marriage to Gabrielle Holmes.

Despite the news, Eamonn was still in good spirits today as he celebrated his beloved Manchester United's 2-1 FA Cup final win over derby rivals Manchester City.

Posting a sketch of him with former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on Instagram, the star wrote: "My God, what a Cup Final, what a result.

"European football next season too.

"The Magic of The Cup.

"Congratulations to the whole squad."

In a short statement, a spokesperson for Eamonn and Ruth said: "Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing."

It comes after we looked through the 14 signs that the marriage was over which were hidden in plain sight.

We also revealed the last time the pair were pictured together before the devastating announcement.