Ruth Langsford Returns to "Loose Women" After Split
Ruth Langsford made a triumphant return to the ITV daytime show "Loose Women" today, greeted by cheers from the live audience. Her return comes after a two-month hiatus following her separation from husband Eamonn Holmes in May.
The 64-year-old TV presenter and Holmes had been together since 1996, marrying in 2010. Their separation announcement in May brought an end to their 14-year marriage. Langsford, who co-presented "This Morning" alongside Holmes from 2006 to 2020, has shared positive messages with fans during her time away from "Loose Women."
As Langsford took her seat on the panel, co-host Coleen Nolan acknowledged her return, saying, "Can I just say I'm so happy you're back." The audience erupted in applause, with Janet Street-Porter adding, "Thank god."
Langsford responded with a demure smile, saying, "It's very nice to be back with you."
Prior to the show, Langsford posted on Instagram, sharing a photo of the "Loose Women" set with the caption, "Back on the Loose!"
Langsford's return comes amidst a period of health challenges for Holmes, who was forced to leave his GB News programme early this month due to poor health. His sudden exit followed comments he made to The Mirror just days earlier, expressing his feeling of living on "borrowed time" due to his father's death from a heart attack at the age of 65 in 1991.
Holmes is currently battling chronic back pain and required a walker with a seat at the recent TRIC Awards. He has even stated he considered pulling out of the event due to the severity of his discomfort.
Holmes has acknowledged the separation from Langsford on his GB News breakfast show, thanking viewers for their support. He attributed the relationship breakdown to work commitments leading them "in different directions."
Holmes and Langsford began dating in 1996, two years after Holmes separated from his first wife, Gabrielle, with whom he has three children. Langsford has spoken about how Holmes initially requested their relationship be kept secret, stating in the Daily Mail that this "spoke volumes about the sort of man he was, the sort of father he was and the integrity he had."
The couple welcomed a son together in 2002 and married in June 2010 at Elvetham Hall in Hampshire. Their divorce will mark the end of their long-standing working partnership. Over the years, Holmes and Langsford have presented numerous shows together, including ITV's "Gift Wrapped," Channel 5's "How the Other Half Lives," and Channel 4's "Lose a Stone in Four Weeks."
The couple's 2020 axing from "This Morning" in favor of Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary sparked controversy, with Holmes and Langsford reportedly being "furious." Langsford continued her career with ITV, while Holmes moved to the controversial GB News channel.
In a 2017 appearance on BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing," Langsford spoke about her marriage to Holmes, saying, "Eamonn will be the first to take the mick out of me, but he will also be the first to floor me with his thoughtfulness."
