There has been one glaring silence on the GB News airwaves this week — and it belongs to Eamonn Holmes.
The famously tireless broadcaster, 66, has been noticeably absent from his breakfast show, an uncharacteristic disappearance that has set tongues wagging behind the scenes. For a man known to work through pain, illness and exhaustion, a full week away from the studio has sparked intense speculation among colleagues and insiders alike.
After all, even amid serious health struggles — including chronic back problems that require walking aids following a spinal operation in 2022 that went disastrously wrong — Eamonn has long prided himself on barely missing a day’s work.
So why now?
“He’s Struggling”
I’m told that the former king of daytime television — once earning £1million a year fronting ITV’s GMTV — is emotionally unraveling.
Those close to him say Eamonn has not been happy for some time, but this week’s sudden absence appears to coincide with a deeply personal blow: the release of his ex-wife Ruth Langsford’s revealing memoir.
Serialised exclusively in the Daily Mail last week, Ruth’s book — provocatively titled Feeling Fabulous — laid bare the pain of their split after 14 years of marriage, describing how she was initially left “blindsided” and “broken.”
Yet within those pages came a revelation Eamonn reportedly found devastating: Ruth spoke of a silver lining — rediscovering herself, embracing her life again, and even contemplating dating.
“He was heartbroken seeing her speak so openly,” one source tells me.
Blindsided — Again
More painful still, I’m told Eamonn was completely unprepared for the book’s content.
“The first he knew of it was seeing it splashed across the newspapers,” says a close friend. “There was no courtesy preview. Nothing.”
According to those in his inner circle, Eamonn feels “severely bruised” by Ruth’s decision to go public — particularly as he believed they had agreed to maintain a dignified silence during their increasingly messy separation.
“He knew a book was coming,” the source adds, “but he had no idea what was actually in it. Seeing it in black and white really upset him. He’s an angry man at the best of times — this sent him over the edge.”
While some suggest his week off could be coincidence, insiders insist the emotional fallout has played a role. “The extra stress and anxiety haven’t helped at all,” the source says.
A Marriage Under Strain
I first revealed the couple’s split in May 2024, after 27 years together and 14 years of marriage. Their joint statement cited work commitments pulling them “in different directions.”
But friends say the cracks had been widening for years.
Health, financial pressure and professional upheaval all took their toll. Ruth, in particular, struggled to cope with Eamonn’s deteriorating mobility after slipped discs and a serious fall at home in 2022.
The pair attempted to continue living together at their £3.2million Weybridge home, but the arrangement soon collapsed. Eamonn moved into a nearby penthouse flat — and quickly began dating again.
A New Relationship — and New Tensions
Eamonn’s relationship with 44-year-old marriage counsellor Katie Alexander — whom he met on social media — has become a major source of tension.
Friends say he was still reeling from the split when the romance began.
“He thought Ruth would put up with his behaviour forever,” one friend says bluntly. “But she had grown tired of being his carer and nursemaid. While she was heartbroken, her friends were actually relieved.”
In her book, Ruth admits therapy helped her move forward — and that she now feels a sense of relief.
Eamonn, however, appears stuck.
“He’s still in denial,” the friend claims. “Even now. Even though he’s with Katie.”
From Cheerful Host to Bitter Broadcaster
Once known for his warmth and humour, insiders say Eamonn’s personality hardened over time.
His sacking from This Morning in 2021 reportedly left him furious — a bitterness that created additional strain for Ruth, who remained on ITV’s Loose Women.
“He was mouthing off like a bitter old man,” the friend says. “Meanwhile Ruth had to keep working to support the household. That dynamic wore her down.”
Fractured Family Ties
Life hasn’t grown easier since.
Eamonn and Ruth remain financially entwined through shared business interests, while he continues to battle HMRC over a substantial tax bill — with £250,000 still outstanding despite having already paid more than £1million.
His health remains fragile. Last year, he famously fell off his chair live on air on GB News, and claims of temper flare-ups with production staff have become increasingly common.
Perhaps most painful of all, his relationships with his children have deteriorated.
“Eamonn’s relationship with his kids is fractured,” says a source. “They’ve all sided with Ruth. Niall, in particular, has refused to speak to him.”
Katie, his current partner, is said to split her time between Eamonn’s home and Yorkshire, where her own children live with their father. The significant age gap — and the perks of dating a famous broadcaster, including a lavish Mediterranean cruise — have not gone unnoticed in the industry.
“People find it strange,” one insider says. “She seems happy with the attention and freebies — for now. Whether she can tolerate his grumpiness long-term is another question.”
The source adds, pointedly: “Let’s hope she doesn’t read Ruth’s book. It might give her ideas.”
For now, one thing is certain: Eamonn Holmes’ absence from GB News is about far more than a week off work. Behind the silence lies heartbreak, resentment, and a life that has unravelled far from the cameras — leaving colleagues, viewers, and even family wondering what comes next.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
