Ruth Langsford’s jibes about Eamonn Holmes and youthful girls resurface

Ruth Langsford‘s previous comments about the possibility of her husband Eamonn Holmes leaving her for a younger woman have resurfaced following the couple’s  announcement they have split.

The former This Morning hosts, both 64, revealed they are headed for divorce on Saturday after work commitments ‘took their marriage in different directions’. 

The couple tied the knot in 2010 after dating for 13 years – and say that despite their separation, they are ‘determined to stay friends’.

They are parents to son Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has sons Declan, 35, Niall, 31, and daughter Rebecca, 33, from his previous marriage. 

In the wake of the shocking news, Ruth’s previous joke about Eamonn leaving her for a younger woman have resurfaced.

On an episode of Loose Women in 2022, the presenter confessed she would rather her husband left her for a 25-year-old than someone her own age, confessing that was her ‘worst fear’.

The Loose Women panel were discussing partners cheating with people half their age when Ruth admitted: ‘See I think, people go, “Oh, you’d hate it if you were dumped for a younger woman”. 

‘I go, “No, I would hate it because…” then I could do the whole cliché thing, “Oh, Eamonn is such a cliche, he’s going with a 25-year-old, how sad.”

‘But then I think “No, the worst thing for me is if he went off with someone the same age”.’

She candidly added: ‘I think that is harder than being dumped for someone younger. That’s my worst fear.’

Her fellow panellists immediately chimed in to assuage Ruth’s fears, with Linda Robson asserting: ‘That’s not going to happen.’

It’s not the first time that Ruth has mentioned the possibility of Eamonn leaving her for a younger woman, previously poking fun at the idea with her husband on This Morning and joking that she would be the ultimate ‘spiteful ex.’

In August 2019, the couple were talking about the bitter break-up between Paul Hollywood and his ex-girlfriend Summer Monteys-Fullam.

The Great British Bake Off star had been 53 years old at the time and had just split from the then-24-year-old barmaid after she refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement, leading to both taking scathing swipes at each other on social media. 

Ruth and Eamonn discussed the topic on This Morning, with Eamonn telling viewers: ‘The baker, the Great British Bake Off man, Paul Hollywood. He’s a 53-year-old of age and everyone is outraged he’s got a girlfriend called Summer, not because she’s called Summer, but because she’s 24.’

It seemed then that the Irish presenter was planning to defend Paul, turning to Ruth and saying: ‘People like you, huffing and puffing, going ”well.” Say I ran off with a 24-year-old?’

But an unruffled Ruth took the opportunity to take a dig, as she jokingly addressed any younger women watching and said: ‘Take him! Seriously, he’s yours.’

Eamonn shot back that he would be stuck with a ‘spiteful ex’ if he opted to leave Ruth, so she quipped: ‘I would be so spiteful. You wouldn’t want me.’

And the pair continued to make jokes at each other’s expense through the episode, when during a house cleaning segment, Ruth said to Eamonn: ‘When you’re thinking of going off with that 24-year-old – could she make a bed? Could she make that hospital corner?’

But he responded: ‘It is a joy to live in a house which is like a five star hotel because of you. You’re the best chamber maid ever.’

It comes after it was reported that Eamonn is set to address their marriage split on his show on GB News on Monday.

The presenter hosts a breakfast show with Isabel Webster, which sees them talk through the big news stories of the world.

Speaking to The Sun, a source said: ‘Eamonn is always frank on camera and knows it will be odd for him to discuss the day’s news without mentioning his split so he’ll say a few words.

‘He is putting on a brave face and will be the true professional he always is. Focusing on work will be a welcome distraction.’

It would mark the first time either Ruth or Eamonn have spoken about the split since their initial announcement, but sources close to the pair say that a ‘statement is being prepared by Ruth’s representatives‘, to share the news with their followers.

Eamonn broke his silence on social media on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Manchester United’s FA Cup win, with no mention of the separation news.

Celebrating the team’s shock 2-1 over rivals Manchester City, he wrote: ‘My God, what a Cup Final, what a Result! #MUFC European football next season too. The Magic of The Cup. Congratulations to the whole squad.’

The TV couple, who friends say were ‘as close to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan as you could get’, have sparked rumours over the last few months as neither appeared on the other’s Instagram posts.

The famous couple first met in through a mutual friend, GMTV star Sally Meen, while Eamonn was also on the show in 1997.

Two years later, he had split from his first wife Gabrielle Holmes, the mother of his three eldest children. 

And despite Ruth and Eamonn feeling an instant connection, he ensured it was the nation’s best-kept secret, as he did not publicly confess his love for Ruth for two years. 

Eamonn even refused to hold her hand in public or attend events together for the first few years of their relationship in a bid to stay respectful to his ex of nearly 20 years. 

But after just a year of having their relationship out in the open, they welcomed their son Jack in 2002. 

But now, more than 20 years later as the beloved pair have split, one friend told MailOnline: ‘Ruth and her team have been telling their friends to look out for the comments, which they are planning to put on social media.

‘It’s a very sorry tale. They are both so loved by the British public, they won over so many people on This Morning which they hosted for more than a decade.’

The couple, who live in Surrey, have prompted many rumours throughout the showbusiness industry in recent months by not appearing together on their individual Instagram accounts.

Eamonn and Ruth tied the knot in 2010 after 13 years together, in a lavish ceremony at the grand 19th century Hampshire hotel, The Elvetham.

Their split comes just days after Ruth revealed she fears Eamonn ‘might never be 100 per cent right’ after undergoing back surgery due to suffering chronic back pain for almost two years.

The GB News breakfast presenter is still recovering from the surgery and an injury to his shoulder, which saw him take four months off work at the end of last year.

He has ongoing daily physio sessions and either uses a cane or wheelchair to get about, with the support of his estranged wife Ruth. 

Speaking to Woman’s Weekly, Ruth said: ‘I don’t know how much Eamonn’s mobility will improve. We live in hope.

‘He does the physio, but there might have to be some acceptance that this might never be 100% right. With any care situation – and there are millions of carers in this country – it isn’t always easy. It’s testing but we manage as a family.’

Ruth added: ‘I look at Eamonn, who’s had his health and back problems, and it makes you realise how important your health is.’

On their big day, Ruth walked down the aisle in a dress and matching headdress by Italian designer Angelina Colarusso.

The newlyweds were joined by famous friends including Royle Family star Sue Johnston, TV presenters Gloria Hunniford, Amanda Lamb and Jeremy Kyle, EastEnders actress Zoe Lucker and former champion boxer Barry McGuigan.

Writing on his Twitter page at the time, the proud groom confirmed: ‘Sorry if me and Ruth have been a bit quiet these past few days… but have been a bit preoccupied – we got married yesterday.

‘Although it was a truly stunningly beautiful day – even the sun was eclipsed by my beautiful bride, who I love even more than before.’ 

Eamonn gushed about his bride in Hello! magazine, which obtained exclusive photographs of their special day.

He told the magazine at the time: ‘Ruth was the missing jigsaw piece in my life. I was meant to be married.

‘She’s a wonderful mummy to Jack, a fantastic partner both personally and professionally and now, I’m proud to say, she’s my beautiful wife.’

Ruth, who regularly presents Loose Women, enthused: ‘Our relationship is very passionate. We’re like Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

‘Although we bicker and argue, ultimately our love for each other and the bond we share is so strong.’

Eamonn and Ruth also hosted This Morning together for 14 years, and were a fixture on the show both on Fridays and during the school holidays.

However, in 2020 the pair were dropped from their Friday slot and replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

A source close to the pair said at the time they were ‘more upset than angry’ at being ousted from the show.

Since then, Eamonn has been a presenter on GB News’ Breakfast Show, while Ruth has been a regular panellist and anchor on Loose Women since 1999. 

Their romance has sparked concern in recent weeks as Ruth admitted that the last two years have been hard on her relationship after Eamonn suffered from complex health issues. 

Discussing how Eamonn refused to hold her hand in public or attend events together for the first few years of their relationship in a bid to stay respectful to his ex, Ruth only fell harder for her man.

She admitted to The Daily Mail in 2017: ‘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.’ 

It wasn’t until 2005 that Eamonn officially divorced Gabrielle.

Then in 2006, the TV couple soon became the nation’s sweethearts as they began co-hosting ITV’s This Morning.

And after Eamonn spotted a couple of gentlemen flirting with Ruth at the Cheltenham Races, he made an impromptu proposal.

Eamon had already respectfully asked Ruth’s mother for her hand in marriage because her father was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s.

So he composed a love letter on his phone and dragged her out of the race box and popped the question.

She told the Loose Women panel in 2018: ‘We were at the races in a box with some people and I’d had a few drinks and had won a bit on the horses and was having a lovely time.

‘Eamonn had gone out to the loo and when he came back, there were men in the box with us flirting and chatting to me, and he said: ‘I don’t like that them flirting with my wife.’

‘And then he went: ‘Actually, she’s not my wife. She should be my wife.’ We had been together 14 years by then. ‘Why is she not my wife? Why haven’t I done this?”

After dragging her away from her sea of admirers, the couple were on their way home when Eamonn repeatedly asked Ruth if her phone had a notification.

Ruth thought nothing of it, but after Eamonn’s consistent questioning, she reluctantly checked her mobile.

At first, she believed he had shared a ‘saucy message’, but it was actually a sweet and meaningful declaration of his love about how much he loved her and adored her.

She confessed to the panel: ‘I opened it and then there was this beautiful letter. Right at the end it said: ‘Will you marry me?’

‘Because we didn’t know this driver I text him back saying: ‘Yes please.’ Then we sat holding hands all the way home and it was really romantic.’