Every battle has a winner and a loser. And this week, in the increasingly bitter divorce between Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, it was all too apparent which one is which.
For Ruth was seen sipping chilled wine on the French Riviera, looking contented and relaxed, as she celebrated her 66th birthday with friends.
The Loose Women star enjoyed a lavish lunch in Cannes, before heading out for the night in a shimmering black dress.
On her social media posts documenting the happy festivities, friends including actress Emily Atack and Amanda Holden sent her birthday greetings – and couldn’t help complimenting Ruth on her glowing appearance.
What a contrast to her estranged husband Eamonn, who has endured perhaps the most humiliating period of his career – which this week culminated in him taking yet more time off from his GB News breakfast TV show.
So diminished a figure has he become that Eamonn appeared to fall asleep live on air last Wednesday, in what was surely a first for a television presenter.
And during the same show, the normally lucid Eamonn was virtually incoherent, as he struggled to question former cabinet minister Robert Jenrick in an interview, much to the politician’s evident bemusement.
While a spokesman for Eamonn has said he is on annual leave, sources at GB News tell me that he was told to take time off. More than this, bosses are currently holding crisis meetings to decide how to deal with the increasingly difficult ‘Eamonn problem’ as it’s now known within the network.
Eamonn Holmes appears to nod off live on air while co-host Ellie Costello speaks
During the same show, the normally lucid Eamonn was virtually incoherent, as he struggled to question former cabinet minister Robert Jenrick in an interview
For not only are his on-screen performances becoming more worrying – not long ago he fell off his chair while the cameras rolled – behind the scenes, his struggles to maintain the energy levels and performance required to be a presenter on live television are, I’m told, causing ‘carnage’.
One employee goes so far as to tell me that his job is now ‘hanging by a thread’. So is it finally curtains for Eamonn’s long TV career?
Those close to the situation describe it to me as ‘sad and embarrassing’. To a certain degree, there is sympathy among some for the 66-year-old, whose agonising back pain is now so pronounced he relies on a wheelchair and a team of carers to live his daily life.
And yet, that said, Eamonn remains as tricky and obstinate a character to deal with as he ever was – perhaps even more so since his marriage to Ruth ended.
It’s this abrasiveness, combined with his deteriorating performances, which is provoking such fury among his colleagues.
Indeed, GB News bosses are facing mounting pressure from his co-workers who are frustrated by their flagship host’s failings.
Live TV is a brutally competitive arena – if you don’t cut the mustard, the exit normally quickly beckons. So it’s little wonder that his colleagues say Eamonn ‘gets away with murder’, and is living off past glories.
I’m told: ‘At the top of the tree they just think he passes the Tesco test – if he walked into any supermarket in Britain he’d be instantly recognised by customers.
Eamonn with his girlfriend Katie Alexander, who is 22 years younger than him
‘And, yes, that has a value. They’d just prop him up in his chair and keep him going for ever, but the reality is the issues are growing by the week.
‘He might have the profile, but he’s becoming more and more difficult for people to work with.
‘A lot of the other male presenters think they could do a more professional job, while the women who work with him feel like they’re propping him up. Meanwhile, he’s earning the biggest salary.’
Perhaps the one most discontented by Eamonn’s performance is his co-presenter, glamorous Ellie Costello, 32. Sources at the network describe her as ‘on the edge’ over their partnership.
She replaced Isabel Webster, who previously co-hosted Sky News’ Sunrise show with Eamonn, and then went to GB News.
Isabel and Eamonn were once close friends, but she left her role as his sidekick in 2024 after their relationship turned sour.
When the vacancy arose, Ellie jumped at the chance to take over. Now, say those who know her, at times she wishes she hadn’t.
‘She’s at the end of her tether,’ says a source. ‘Ellie is a trooper but working with Eamonn is not an easy task. Just look at all the women he has been paired with over the years – it usually ends in nasty rifts and feuds. He monumentally fell out with Anthea Turner when they shared a sofa in the GMTV years, and it certainly wasn’t always easy with Fiona Phillips when she was his co-host, as he could be very condescending.
Eamonn has become a tricky character to deal with since his 14-year marriage to Ruth Langsford ended in 2024
‘As for Ruth, they split up after sharing a sofa for This Morning, and then Eamonn and Isabel also had a huge falling out.
‘He seems to struggle with his female co-stars, as Ellie is now discovering. It’s worse than ever now, though, because he’s unwell and tired. Ellie is having a nightmare.’
I’m told GB News bosses are aware of Ellie’s difficulties and are keen not to lose her.
In Eamonn’s defence, his job isn’t an easy gig. An on-air time of 6am means he is up at 4am.
Perhaps that’s why I’m told he appeared tired behind the scenes last week – when asked by colleagues how he was feeling, they got an angry response from him. And it is not the only frustrated outburst that has taken place.
‘It’s unravelling,’ says a GB News insider. ‘He’s trying to soldier on but it’s causing a lot of aggravation behind the scenes. It appears a once illustrious TV career is now sliding slowly to the end.’
The solution, though, is not instantly obvious – particularly as Eamonn is not the kind of man to go gently into that good night.
One source says: ‘Those at the top have a sense Eamonn would not go quietly, he needs the money, after all. And he is under contract and it’s not easy to sack someone over health conditions.’
Eamonn has openly spoken of his physical struggles and how he requires help from a physiotherapist every morning before work to prevent his spine from seizing up.
Adding to this is his growing reliance on his wheelchair and doses of powerful medication.
He also has a long-running financial headache after recently losing a battle with HMRC over a vast outstanding tax bill, which has apparently stalled the finalisation of his divorce from Ruth. Reportedly, he still owes around £250,000 despite having already paid off more than £1million.
As well as financially struggling, friends say he is feeling the emotional strain after his split.
‘He finds it very painful that Ruth is off enjoying herself while he’s stuck in a wheelchair. But you could say this is all his own doing. After all, he was the one who developed that friendship with Katie, which so upset Ruth.’
Katie Alexander, of course, is his new much younger girlfriend – the 44-year-old who he was seen with this week at a culinary competition, while he was off work.
Asked about his career plans recently, he said: ‘I don’t know. Society’s ageist. I’m sick, I’m in a wheelchair, that’s been horrendous to deal with for two years.
‘I understand my job… but I understand it’s tough for people to deal with you.’
It’s thought Eamonn will return to breakfast TV screens in the coming weeks, with bosses hoping he will be refreshed and invigorated by his time off.
But it appears there’s one person who won’t be so keen to see him back – his chic sidekick Ellie.
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