Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford's This Morning co-star says grief 'put strain' on couple

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford’s This Morning colleague has claimed past trauma could have put a “strain” on their relationship. The insight comes just days after the couple shocked fans by announcing their divorce.

On Saturday (May 25), a representative for the stars confirmed that their 27-year relationship had ended. In a statement, they wrote: "Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing.”

The couple, who presented ITV’s This Morning together for 15 years, said ‘I do’ back in 2010 at Elvetham Hall in Hampshire. In 2002, they welcomed their only child together, Jack, 22.

Following the news of Eamonn and Ruth’s split, a psychologist, who previously worked with the pair on the magazine programme, has suggested grief could be a contributing factor to their break-up. Jo Hemmings - who has appeared on both This Morning and GB News - told The Sun that the duo’s love for working together made them stronger.

However, she claimed that Ruth’s lucrative showbiz career may have created a rift in their relationship. She wrote: “Perhaps he feels like she wasn’t there enough for him as her own career has flourished, and she’s probably been out of the house a lot.

“Outside of work and life directly at home, they’ve both been through a lot of grief. Eamonn recently lost his mum and Ruth lost her sister to suicide.”

In 2019, a Woking coroner ruled that Ruth’s sister Julia Johnson’s death at the age of 62 was caused by suicide.

A post-mortem examination confirmed she was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol at the time of her death.

Meanwhile, in 2022, Eamonn took to social media to announce that his mother Josie had died at the age of 93.

At the time, he wrote: “My 4 amazing brothers and I said Goodbye for the last time to our beautiful Mum Josie this afternoon. She's at last reunited with Daddy now. That is our only consolation.

“We loved and will miss her so much. Every time I visited her she came to the door to bless me with Holy Water and Wave goodbye. Now sadly it is Goodbye Mummy.”

Due to their individual traumas, Jo believed they may have been “grieving separately” and had begun to “lean on other people”.

“Grief puts a strain on any relationship and if they don’t share it and use it as an opportunity to find each other again, it can turn that gulf into a chasm,” she added.

Over the years, Eamonn has also faced a multitude of health woes including; undergoing a double-hip replacement in 2016, and battling shingles in 2018.

Three years later, the GB News anchor began to suffer from chronic back pain and was forced to have spinal surgery.

Following the operation, the Northern Irish broadcaster revealed his recovery had been marred after breaking a shoulder in a fall.

Speaking about her ex’s mobility issues, Ruth told Woman’s Weekly: “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."

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