Ruth Langsford has spoken candidly about the suicide of her sister Julia, who died after a long battle with depression four years ago. The Loose Women presenter, 63, said that returning to work was crucial for her mental health, providing structure and focus during the darkest period of her life.
In an interview on Kaye Adams' podcast 'How to be 60', Langsford explained: 'I needed a focus, which was - get up and I would cry in the shower - have a big old bawl – and then I could almost cut it off and go: right, come on, time for work, dry your hair, go to work.' She added that without her TV job, she would have 'cried all day' about her sister.
Langsford credited her husband, GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes, and their 21-year-old son Jack for their support. 'Eamonn was amazing during that time and Jack and then work,' she said. She described the year of her sister's death as the hardest of her life, admitting she has blocked the exact year from her memory.
The presenter also spoke about the ongoing reminders of her loss, such as reaching for a Christmas card for her sister. 'It jolts you, where you think: oh, I don't need to get her a card anymore,' she said. 'Everybody has their pain. We all end up losing people we love. But it's important we don't lock it all away in a box.'
Langsford also discussed her fears about developing dementia, as both her father and mother have suffered from the condition. She revealed she would refuse a test to determine her likelihood of developing Alzheimer's, saying: 'There's no cure at the moment... I almost don't want to know.' However, she admitted to worrying when she forgets names or misplaces items, but tries not to let the fear consume her.
