Ruth Langsford Admits Eamonn Holmes Divorce Felt 'Impossible to Survive'
Ruth Langsford has candidly described her split from television presenter Eamonn Holmes as feeling "impossible to survive" in the aftermath of their "devastating" divorce. The former This Morning hosts announced their plans to divorce after fourteen years of marriage in May 2024, with initial reports suggesting they were "determined to stay friends and keep things amicable."
Emotional Turmoil and Morning Tears
In her new book, Feeling Fabulous, Langsford reveals the profound emotional impact of the breakup, disclosing that she would often start her mornings by crying in the shower before heading to work. "The biggest emotion that threatened to swallow me up in the early days was sadness," she wrote, as reported by The Mirror. "When you have been with somebody for a long time – twenty-six years in our case – and had imagined what your future would look like, there is a sense of deep loss."
Langsford, who is sixty-five years old, added that she had expected to be with Holmes "forever" and found the separation "incredibly hard to come to terms with." She elaborated, "Suddenly, life was different, with no clue what the months and years ahead would look like."
Acceptance and Moving Forward
Despite the heartache, Langsford has reached a point of acceptance. "I am not happy my marriage is over, but I have accepted it," she stated. "I think this has been the biggest turning point for me because fighting against the inevitable is exhausting and pointless."
The couple, who began dating thirty years ago and welcomed their son Jack in 2002, were a familiar presence on British television. They co-hosted This Morning regularly from 1999 until 2022 and fronted several other programmes together, including Eamonn & Ruth: How The Other Half Lives and Do The Right Thing with Eamonn and Ruth.
Public Scrutiny and Personal Healing
Appearing on This Morning on Monday, February 23, Langsford admitted that the "hardest" aspect of the breakup was having it play out in the public eye. "That goes with the territory, that goes with the job – I accept that," she said. "I don't discuss our divorce or our relationship break-up [in the book]. What I discuss is picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and starting all over again."
Earlier in February, Langsford expressed feeling blindsided and "broken" when her marriage ended. "I just didn't think I'd find myself here, and I wasn't strong at the start," she confessed. "I was broken. Broken heart. Broken dreams. We all have an image of how we think our life and future is going to be. This wasn't mine."
Life After the Split
Since the divorce, Holmes, aged sixty-six, has moved on and started dating relationship counsellor Katie Alexander, going public with the relationship in 2024. In contrast, Langsford, who now appears regularly as a host on Loose Women, has admitted she is not yet ready for a new partner. She explained that she hasn't "healed from the last one" yet, emphasising her focus on personal recovery and resilience.
Holmes has continued his broadcasting career, presenting GB News' Breakfast Show since 2022, while Langsford remains a prominent figure in daytime television, navigating her post-divorce life with honesty and vulnerability.
