What Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have said about divorce

Ruth Langsford has returned to Loose Women for the first time after her divorce from Eamonn Holmes. We take a look at everything the couple have said about their split.

Langsford had taken a break from Loose Women in recent weeks in the wake of the news. However returning on Monday, she has said she was delighted to be back on TV. Coleen Nolan too was happy to have her, saying: "Can I just say, I am so so happy you are back?"

The presenter promised not to disappear for weeks again. She responded: "I won't do it again. It's very nice to be back with you all." Langsford revealed she had been in Tenerife recently too.

It first come to light in May that Langsford and Holmes had split after 14 years of marriage but 27 years as a couple. Reports said their work commitments "took their marriage in different directions". They were a golden couple of TV, having presented on This Morning together for many years on a Friday before they were axed in 2020.

Their joint statement simply said: "Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing." They were married in 2010, having romanced for 13 years. Their son Jack has recently gone to university. Holmes also has three children - Declan, Niall and Rebecca - from his first marriage.

So what have Langsford and Holmes said about their divorce?

Ruth Langsford

The TV star is yet to break her silence on her divorce. However, she has spoken about divorce before their split and her comments resurfaced when their divorce hit headlines.

Speaking on This Morning in 2018, Langsford and Holmes spoke about whether they could remain friends with an ex. Interestingly, they had different opinions at the time. Langsford shared her thoughts: "Why would you need to stay friends, you aren't with them anymore, you don't need to be friends. My thing is you weren't just friends, you were married or had a relationship."

Eamonn Holmes

Holmes was the first to speak out on their divorce. The presenter returned to his job on GB News and he thanked viewers for their support. "Just before we move on we'd just like to thank people for your support for Ruth and I over the last few days as to the news of our separation," he said. "Your support for both of us is very much appreciated."

It seemed there is no bad blood on Holmes' side. The presenter would like to be friends with his ex-wife, according to Best magazine. Asked about his relationship status, he was quoted saying: "It's too early to say, but I hope we can still be friends."

Holmes has been struggling with his health at the same time as going through the divorce. In June, he attended the Television and Radio Industries Club Awards and he told The Mirror: "I’m not okay. This is not a good time at all." Aged 65, the TV star admitted he feels he is on "borrowed time" as his dad died of a heart attack at the same age.

Read more

• Eamonn Holmes' health struggles after star says he's 'not okay'

• Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford's jobs that 'took them in different directions'

Months before the divorce was public, Holmes discussed the possibility of moving back to Ireland and marrying a local girl. The presenter made the comments in November last year during NVTV's Conversations With Gerry Kelly and they resurfaced once news of his divorce hit headlines in May.

At the time, he said: "Ruth wouldn’t come back to Northern Ireland. Yes, because of her family and also because she’s English and she sees life around London and things, whereas I can’t stand London. So we have a different outlook on things like that."

He added: "Maybe Ruth will be run over by a bus or something, who knows? If I get another wife I might come back, get a local girl. That's awful talking about Ruth being run over by a bus, that's awful."