STAYING STRONG
Ruth Langsford’s Loose Women co-star breaks silence on Eamonn Holmes split & how star is coping with marriage breakdown
Ruth is taking another break from Loose Women
RUTH Langsford's Loose Women co-star Linda Robson said they are "supporting" their friend amid her divorce to Eamonn Holmes.
The Birds of a Feather star, 66, said her co-host Ruth, 64, was keeping in "high spirits" following the breakdown of her marriage.
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Linda, who split from her husband of 33 years, Mark Dunford, late last year, said it was a "sad" situation for the former This Morning hosts.
"We’re staying out of it because it’s not our business, but we’re supporting her in any way we can and just keeping her happy," she told .
";It’s sad for the both of them but just keeping her spirits high."
But just days ago it was reported that Ruth was taking another break from Loose Women amid her marriage split from Eamonn, 64.
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Ruth only returned to her seat on the panel last Tuesday, but it appears she's set to spend some time away from the ITV show again.
A source said: "Ruth is on a longstanding holiday that's been in the diary for a long time."
Still wearing her wedding ring, Ruth avoided addressing her comeback as she introduced the show's topics as usual, reading from the autocue.
The couple’s 15-year union was said to have rapidly deteriorated after their departure from This Morning in 2021.
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Eamonn has since been spotted with blonde beauty Katie Alexander, 42, after we told of their close friendship.
The two have been on numerous outings together in the last year.
Inside Ruth and Eamonn’s inner circles from GB News presenter’s new ‘TV wife’ and therapist who is ‘madly in love’ to the Loose Women ‘bestie’ rallying round co-star
Eamonn treated her to a Beyonce concert, Center Parcs and a Manchester United game — while Katie has been seen in his native Belfast.
Katie met Eamonn on X/Twitter in 2015 after she commented on a post and it sparked a conversation.
And relationship counsellor Katie, who is said to be head over heels for the presenter, has been staying with him in his luxury apartment.
A source told us: "The fact remains that he would still be in the marital home, being cared for by Ruth, if she didn't find out what had gone on behind her back.
"There is a lot still to spill out on what has really gone on during Eamonn's marriage. It will all come out in the wash.
"And even he will raise eyebrows at some of the details surrounding his new confidant Katie, who has told pals she's 'madly in love' with him.
"Watch this space."
Ruth and Eamonn Relationship Timeline
Before the shock split announcement, Ruth and Eamonn seemed like one of the strongest couples on UK TV – even with their signature bickering style.
Here's how their romance played out...
1997 - The couple first meet after being introduced by mutual friends, two years after Eamonn splits from his first wife, Gabrielle, with whom he has three children.
1997-2002 - To be respectful to Gabrielle, the couple kept their relationship out of the limelight. Ruth told : "I thought it spoke volumes about the sort of man he was, the sort of father he was and the integrity he had. It made me love him more, not less."
2002 - Ruth and Eamonn welcome their son, Jack, to the family.
2005 - Eamonn finalises his divorce with Gabrielle.
2006 - The pair begin to host Friday episodes of This Morning together.
2010 - Eamonn proposes to Ruth while at the Cheltenham Races, after asking Ruth's mother for her hand.
June 2010 - Eamonn and Ruth marry at Elvetham Hall, Hampshire.
2016 - Eamonn undergoes a double hip replacement in the first of many health battles.
June 2019 - On This Morning, Ruth and Eamonn say the secret to their happy marriage. Eamonn credits "compromise, consideration and lots of conjugal," while Ruth said it was "laughter and an equal marriage".
November 2020 - Ruth and Eamonn are replaced on their regular Friday slot by Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary in a 'show shake-up'.
December 2021 - After a year of being moved to the bank holiday presenting slot, both Eamonn and Ruth left This Morning.
January 2022 - Eamonn debuted on GB News, while Ruth stayed with ITV in her long-standing role on Loose Women.
September 2022 - Eamonn undergoes spinal surgery after years of back issues including a trapped sciatic nerve.
November 2022 - Eamonn falls down the stairs of his Surrey home with Ruth and breaks his shoulder, requiring a new operation.
September 2023 - Eamonn has a spine and neck stretching procedure as part of his year-long recovery.
May 2024 - Ruth and Eamonn announce they have split after 14 years of marriage and a 27-year relationship.