Eamonn Holmes to be offered £250K fee to take part in huge reality TV show after marriage split and health woes
EAMONN Holmes is being courted by Celebrity Big Brother bosses with a £250,000 tempter.
The telly veteran, 64, is top of the ITV show’s wish list for the next series.
Eamonn has previously rejected offers to take part in the reality TV series, saying in 2018: “I don’t need the money.”
But it comes as he is struggling with ill-health and was pictured last week using a walking frame.
The former This Morning presenter has split from wife Ruth Langsford, 64, and was forced to sell his Belfast home to pay a reported £250,000 tax bill.
A source said: “Celebrity Big Brother bookers are drawing up a wish list of contestants and Eamonn is on it. They would love for him to take part as he’d be such a popular housemate.
“Eamonn’s health concerns are something they would take into account and, when they package up an offer, they would make assurances to him that he would be looked after in the house.
“The offer would be a meaty six-figure sum, around £250,000, to try and tempt him in.
“Eamonn has always been wanted for Celebrity Big Brother but has never wanted to take part. His split with Ruth and the fact he had to sell his house in Belfast to pay a huge tax bill makes the bookers think his head could be turned.”
ITV brought back the show in February, with Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne as their star housemates, and reality show star David Potts crowned winner.
The Sun revealed that Eamonn has grown close to counsellor Katie Alexander, 42, since his split from Ruth.
She was also seen visiting Eamonn at his rented home in South West London.
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 Daily Mail: “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.