Veteran broadcaster Eamonn Holmes is reportedly considering leaving England and returning to his native Northern Ireland as a bitter tax dispute with HM Revenue and Customs continues to take its toll.
Mounting Financial Pressure
The GB News breakfast show presenter has disclosed that the long-running HMRC tax row has left him financially devastated, forcing him to sell two properties and still leaving him with an outstanding bill of £250,000. Holmes, who joined GB News in 2022 following his departure from ITV's This Morning, insists he was working as a freelancer during his 11-year stint hosting Sky's Sunrise morning show until 2016, but HMRC disputes this classification.
Speaking recently in Northern Ireland, the 65-year-old broadcaster revealed the extent of his financial strain: "They still want another quarter of a million pounds off me. I've paid them more than a million already, but they won't stop. They've ruined me."
Personal Turmoil and Professional Strain
Those close to Holmes describe the presenter as "clearly struggling" with the mounting pressure, noting he's often "in a foul mood" behind the scenes at GB News. The tax dispute comes during a particularly challenging period for Holmes, who has recently suffered a facial injury and experienced reported "turmoil" in his new romance with partner Katie Alexander.
Friends have urged the father of four to consider moving back to Northern Ireland, where he began his broadcasting career with Ulster Television, suggesting he could "be a star there" and enjoy a "much nicer life." One friend commented: "He will have a much nicer life there, but it seems like he's clinging on to the fame in England. It's all very sad."
Career Impact and Future Prospects
Despite the off-screen challenges, sources confirm that Holmes continues to perform professionally when cameras roll on his GB News programme. However, the pressure is reportedly affecting backstage dynamics, with one source telling the Daily Mail: "When the cameras roll, Eamonn still switches it on, but away from that it's very messy. People's patience is wearing a bit thin."
The tax dispute has already had significant financial consequences, with Holmes forced to sell his home in Belfast and holiday property in Portugal. The broadcaster claims HMRC changed their position on his employment status retrospectively, demanding "ten years of back taxes and national insurance" at what he describes as "the most vulnerable time of my life."
Holmes became a household name through his work with Sky News, ITV, and BBC, most notably alongside then-wife Ruth Langsford on This Morning. The couple, once considered daytime TV's golden couple, separated last year after both departed from their regular presenting roles on the ITV programme.
