From girls’ nights out to sexy new TV gigs, how Ruth Langsford is having the last laugh after split from Eamonn Holmes
SEEING your ex-husband jet off on holiday with his new younger lover would send most women spiralling into the depths of despair.
But not TV presenter Ruth Langsford, 64, whose estranged husband, Eamonn Holmes, also 64, was snapped recently landing in Barcelona with his glamourous new girlfriend, 43-year-old Katie Alexander.
Refusing to wallow in their recent split which came after 14 years of marriage and 28 years together, Ruth has found her ‘spark’, throwing herself into the hosting slot on Loose Women, showcasing her own fashion range, and according to those close to her, enjoying some well-deserved ‘me time’.
“What started off as a tough few months has turned into a time of enjoyment and opportunities,” a source tells Fabulous.
“Ruth’s got her spark back and she’s raring to start a new chapter.
”People expect her to be fazed by seeing Katie and Eamonn together, and although it was a shock at first, she’s not dwelling on it.”
Following their split in May, sources hinted at how Ruth felt ‘more like his carer than a wife’ while Eamonn became ‘more and more grumpy’ as he dealt with chronic pain issues triggered by a fall at his home a year ago, which left him with a dislocated pelvis and three slipped discs.
While Eamonn’s new woman Katie was spotted wearing a diamond ring, sparking un-founded engagement rumours, Ruth was still wearing her wedding ring as recently as this week.
Eamonn and Katie are also said to be searching for houses as they look to move in together.
It’s undoubtedly a lot to take for Ruth who has a son, Jack, 22, with her former This Morning co-presenter but sources close to her insist that Ruth is moving on and is “determined to be as positive and proactive as possible in the next stage of her life.”
And it certainly looks like Ruth is living her best life.
From TV gigs to girl dates and posh beauty treatments, we reveal what life after Eamonn looks like for this newly-single woman.
THE NEXT NATIONAL TREASURE
Ruth will be fighting off TV bosses looking to capitalise on her popularity and her newly-single status, says Brand and Culture Expert Nick Ede.
Earlier this week she hinted at some interesting opportunities to her 1.1m followers on Instagram, when she teased [on Wednesday] that she was taking part in “a very exciting photoshoot.”
“Ruth is reaching national treasure status, and nothing cements that more than someone who has triumphed over adversity,” Nick explains.
“She’ll be fine without Eamonn at her side.
”She’s a journalist, a presenter and a designer who has always held her own. It won’t be long before TV bosses come calling.”
Nick reveals how Ruth could follow in the footsteps of presenter Vanessa Feltz, also recently single, by taking part in celebrity dating shows.
“I can see Ruth potentially going on The First Dates Hotel and trusting Fred to find her a match, or she could even go on Celebs Go Dating like Vanessa,” he says.
“Ruth’s very popular and has lots of celebrity friends and I can see her maybe even hosting her own dating show like Davina and Rylan do.
”I’m sure I’m A Celeb will want her and I think she could be the next Loose Woman to enter the Big Brother house next year too.”
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.
CELEB GIRLS HAVE HER ‘BACK’
Earlier this week Ruth took to Instagram to introduce that day’s Loose Women panel, tellingly using Meghan Trainor’s feminist anthem Badass Woman as the soundtrack for her story.
The lyrics include the words “I’m a badass woman, what’s wrong with that? Can’t hold me back”.
And our source says the girls on the show including Coleen Nolan and Janet Street-Porter have been a lifeline for Ruth: “All the ladies are incredibly close and they’ve been rallying around Ruth.
Ruth isn’t going to play any games and won’t rise to any bait from social media users.”
Nick Ede
“There have been many supportive phone calls and lunches and they’re planning on some lavish girls’ nights out too.
”Women like Brenda Edwards, who is happily single, have been giving Ruth advice and lending an ear.”
In fact at the beginning of this month, Brenda gave an interview in which she praised her co-stars, saying, “They’re like a little family, they’re a phenomenal set of women.”
And our source agrees.
“Ruth has found their support to be invaluable.
”She has a lot of strong women around her and that’s been hugely empowering for her.”
And it’s not just her Loose Women pals she’s been leaning on. Last week Ruth joined Rylan Clark, Lizzie Cundy and their friend Kimberley Morgan for a swanky night on the town, where they swigged cocktails and prosecco before heading back to Rylan’s for a nightcap, giving Ruth the chance to let her hair down.
A FASHION ICON… AND SHE KNOWS IT
As the photos of Katie pushing Eamonn through Barcelona airport in a wheelchair made headlines, Ruth chose to showcase her QVC clothing range on social media.
She shared snaps of herself in a selection of chic pieces.
Knowing iconic social media accounts such as Hunsnet adore her fashion posts, Ruth is keen to give the people what they want and ensured all eyes were on her and her range.
Looking stylish in cargo trousers and a striped t-shirt, accessorised with dark shades, Ruth proudly captioned the story “All my own work. All from my range at QVC”.
Prior to that she showed off a chunky jumper, captioning it, “It’s a cosy sweat top kind of day.”
In response to any suggestions that Ruth may have chosen to post to coincide with Eamonn’s trip, Nick says: “Ruth isn’t going to play any games and won’t rise to any bait from social media users.
”She’s going to turn up and show up and she’s done this recently whilst Eamonn’s on a cruise – she’s showing off her new fashion range and getting record sales.
”I don’t think she will play a PR game, I think she will be authentic and honest and this is why we love her even more.”
COMFORT FOOD IS HER TONIC
Ruth is a keen chef and often shares candid videos and photos of her cooking on her Instagram.
If fans were worried that she’d lost her appetite since the marriage split they shouldn’t be – our source insists she’s “spending plenty of time in the kitchen and is hoping to host elaborate dinner parties to showcase her new recipes.”
And Nick reckons viewers would salivate at the chance to see Ruth putting her culinary skills to good use on TV.
“ITV has the fabulous show Cooking With The Stars which Ruth would be perfect for,” he explains.
“Either that or I can see her getting cast in Celebrity Masterchef.”
Earlier this week Ruth showed off her sense of humour by sharing a picture of a luxury hot chocolate, with a red ‘danger’ sticker. She captioned the post “Uh Oh.”
But it’s well documented that the presenter is a stickler for healthy eating.
In an interview in 2021 she even complained that she needed a bigger fridge to store all of Eamonn’s sweet treats – something she doesn’t need to worry about any longer.
She said, “In our house there’s Eamonn’s food and Ruth’s food. Ruth essentials would include skimmed milk, tea bags, eggs, smoked salmon, the odd bottle of white wine.
”As for my husband, there’s hardly space on the shelves by the time he stocks his essentials which, broadly speaking, consist of strawberry Angel Delight, Quavers, Wotsits, Bounty bars, Crunchies, Fruit Pastilles and Turkish Delight.”
POSH TREATMENTS AND ‘ME TIME’
Ruth caused some concern this week when she spoke out about ageing, shortly after Eamonn and Katie, who is over 20 years their junior, left for their luxury cruise.
“When I hit 60, it seems to have happened very quickly,” she said.
“I feel that everything has dropped and sagged and I have a funny neck.
”When you take a selfie or something, whereas before I didn’t really notice, now I do and I go, “Ugh, look at that.”
Fans were quick to leap to her defence, with one saying “you look lovely, Ruth,” but our source says she may well consider some expert beauty treatments if it means feeling better about herself.
Last week she posted a photo taken while she was getting highlights at a posh London salon and she’s posted regularly before about being a lover of hair extensions.
“Ruth isn’t vain at all, but like everyone she likes to look her best,” our source explains.
“Be it her eyebrows, her hair, her skin, she likes to be on top of it and she won’t stop getting her beauty treatments.
”It makes her feel – and look – great.”