Holly Willoughby wants to ‘end feud’ with Ruth Langsford after Eamonn Holmes split as she plans to ‘reach out’
HOLLY Willoughby reportedly wants to end her ‘feud’ with Ruth Langsford after her split with Eamonn Holmes.
The Sun on Sunday broke the news last weekend that Eamonn and Ruth had split and are in the process of divorcing.
It’s now been alleged presenter Holly, 43, is keen to extend an olive branch after she returns from filming her new Netflix show, Bear Hunt, in Costa Rica.
A source told Closer: “Holly really feels for Ruth at the moment. Even though it seems the divorce was her choice, she knows she’s going to feel the fallout of it.
“Although they haven’t been super close largely due to past tension between Eamonn and Phil [Schofield] they’ve always had huge respect for each other. They understand the pressures of this job and have always got on well.”
“She now wants to reach out and speak up, so she wants to meet up with Ruth when she’s back from filming and just have a fun lunch out together and show that there are no hard feelings.”
The Sun has contacted Holly’s reps for comment.
Their relationship is thought to have soured after Eamonn made some scathing remarks about Holly following Phillip’s axe from This Morning.
The broadcaster had taken a swipe at the blonde beauty after she delivered an emotional statement about Phil’s affair scandal.
Schofield was axed by ITV last year after admitting to a fling with a much younger male colleague.
Eamonn didn’t have any praise for emotional Holly, but he had lots for her co-host Josie Gibson.
Fast-forward 12 months and today we told how Ruth and Eamonn, both 64, separated after she found messages between him and another woman on a laptop computer.
Her shock discovery six weeks ago led to the announcement that they were splitting up after 14 years of marriage.
It has also become apparent Eamonn has become close friends with a blonde divorcee in her 40s — who works as a relationship counsellor.
The Belfast-born anchor has been on outings with her and showered her with gifts.
It is understood the messages Loose Women host Ruth, 64, stumbled across were to and from the same woman.
Meanwhile, a picture has emerged of Eamonn on a day at a safari park in February where the woman is thought to be seen through the rear window of a vehicle.
A source said: “Ruth was completely taken by surprise when she saw the messages.
“She had no idea what had been going on between them. She was devastated.
“Not only was she very upset but she was also angry.”
Eamonn has moved out of their marital home in Surrey.
Meanwhile, Ruth is taking an extended break from ITV’s Loose Women as she struggles to deal with their marriage breakdown.
Over the past year, Eamonn has treated the woman to a Beyoncé concert, a Center Parcs visit and tickets to see his beloved Manchester United at Old Trafford.
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.
They became friends after she made a comment on one of his social media posts and they immediately struck up a rapport.
Eamonn has also endorsed a charity linked to her counselling work, helping to host a fundraising event free of charge.
Last week, a source close to the Northern Irish star said: “She works for a charity Eamonn is involved with from time to time.”
Eamonn and Ruth announced on May 25 that they had split and were divorcing — as revealed exclusively by The Sun on Sunday.
Ruth has confided there is “no way back” for their marriage.
MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN
Cracks had become apparent after the pair, who have son Jack, 22, were not photographed together for around two years.
It was reported GB News host Eamonn’s health issues, including crippling back pain, had placed a strain on their relationship.
But pals of Ruth say she has been “upset” at the claims that was the reason for their split.
Eamonn lavished his wife with praise for her “amazing” support after he suffered a fall down stairs of their home in November 2022.
And last month she was a visitor when he had a spell in hospital following another medical scare.
Earlier this year, Eamonn detailed his ongoing “epidemic of pain” which has left him relying on a walking stick and wheelchair.
And he said the “harsh reality” could be he may never be able to walk unassisted again.
Last year he was unable to attend his mother Josie’s funeral due to his health.
She had no idea what had been going on between them. She was devastated
Source
Discussing his woes, he said: “It’s as if somebody up there is playing with my life.
“In the past year I’ve had an operation on my back which went wrong and has confined me to a wheelchair. I’ve fallen and broken my shoulder. Honestly, you could not make it up.”
In 2018, Eamonn was hit by a bout of shingles — a viral infection that causes a painful rash.
He reckoned it was brought on by a stressful tax row with HMRC over whether he was classed as staff or a freelancer while a presenter at This Morning.
Ruth publicly addressed their split for the first time on Thursday when she thanked fans for their messages of support during a live stint on shopping channel QVC.
Prior to news of their separation, in a discussion on Loose Women last month, Ruth confessed it would not bother her as much if her husband left her for a 25-year-old.
She said: “The worst thing is if he went off with someone the same age. That’s my worst fear.”
Eamonn and Ruth jointly presented ITV’s flagship show This Morning until 2021.
He now hosts GB News with Isabel Webster.
