Eamonn Holmes, 64, whisks new girlfriend, 42, off on romantic trip to his native Belfast after split from Ruth Langsford
TV host Eamonn Holmes took his new girlfriend on a romantic trip to his native Belfast — visiting the same budget restaurant four days in a row.
The 64-year-old presenter and Katie Alexander, 42, looked happy together at the American-style venue, with Eamonn chomping on £9 “Full Fry” breakfasts and £6.50 soup of the day.
Staff said the telly star appeared “quite frail” amid his health issues with his back and came in using a wheeled frame.
He was also seen being helped into a car at Belfast City Airport on arrival on August 16.
It comes after his wife Ruth Langsford, 64, announced they are to divorce.
She found messages from another woman on a laptop at their home.
Last week, Katie’s ex-husband George Alexander told The Sun on Sunday he felt sympathy for Loose Women presenter Ruth over their split.
One staff member at “budget friendly” Papa Browns, in Carrickfergus, said of Eamonn’s visit: “He came in four days in a row. I noticed his girlfriend had an English accent. They looked happy.
“He appeared quite frail and it took a minute to recognise him, but he was always very polite and friendly.
“Both of them appeared at ease with being seen together. Eamonn really enjoyed it.”
Eamonn has had to deny reports he has been taken off air in a staff shake-up at GB News.
He posted on X he was on a “summer holiday”.
Relationship counsellor Katie was dropped of at Belfast City Airport yesterday afternoon before flying back to England without Eamonn.
During the trip, he is understood to have visited family in Holywood, a coastal town 20 minutes from Belfast city centre.
A local barman said he saw the presenter in the high street.
Katie, a divorced mum from Yorkshire, was given an insight into places close to Eamonn’s heart.
It comes after Ruth was seen on telly still wearing her wedding ring, two months after the couple split.
The Loose Women star was spotted with the diamond band as she modelled her clothing range for QVC on Friday.
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.