The strain of Eamonn Holmes‘ split from wife Ruth Langsford could be starting to show, with the break up of TV’s golden couple spilling into the public arena this week.
GB News star Eamonn sent a barbed message to his estranged wife at Tuesday’s TRIC Awards, inferring to a crowd of their mutual friends and colleagues that he had been stabbed in the back.
A source has told MailOnline that ‘Ruth took Eamonn’s words as a dig at her. She found it unfair and hurtful,’ adding that ‘friends are worried this is going to get very nasty.’
Accepting the gong for best breakfast show at Tuesday’s industry event, Eamonn told the audience: ‘So I got two things in my back that I didn’t want,’ seemingly referring to both his recent operation and Ruth.
The strain of Eamonn Holmes ‘ split from wife Ruth Langsford is starting to show, with the break up of TV’s golden couple spilling into the public arena this week
GB News star Eamonn sent a barbed message to his estranged wife at Tuesday’s TRIC Awards, inferring to a crowd of their mutual friends and colleagues that he had been stabbed in the back (pictured in 2022)
He said: ‘I think sometimes we [GB News presenters] all have imposter syndrome, why is, that sort of thing.
‘I went for an operation a year and a half ago and it went wrong. So I got two things in my back that I didn’t want, so why not, I’ll happily accept this.’
Eamonn and Ruth, both 64, announced their plans to divorce last month after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together and Eamonn has since moved out of his marital home in Surrey.
The GB news star has had a tough year, and admitted at Tuesday’s bash that he feels as though he is on ‘borrowed time’ because his father died at 65 of a fatal heart attack.
Eamonn was seen arriving at the awards in a wheelchair as he suffers from chronic back pain and is undergoing painful physio sessions.
Speaking in January he said the ‘harsh reality’ could be that he may never be able to walk alone again unaided.
Ruth meanwhile is said to be grappling with ‘agonising guilt’ over her extranged husband’s health problems.
Eamonn made his first public appearance since news of his shock divorce at Tuesday’s TRIC Awards and he shocked fans when he admitted he is on ‘borrowed time’
Accepting the award for best breakfast show on Tuesday, the GB News presenter seemed to infer that he had been stabbed in the back and Charlotte Hawkins showed her support for her former Sky News co-host
A source has told MailOnline that ‘Ruth took Eamonn’s words as a dig at her. She found it unfair and hurtful’ (pictured in 2022)
Claims have emerged that Ruth is torn between helping Eamonn and moving on with her life, with a source telling Bella magazine that Ruth feels ‘terribly guilty’ and seeing recent photos of her ex looking ‘frail has been torture for her’.
‘Even though she has every right to live her life and do what is right for her – she’s convinced the public will see her as abandoning Eamonn in his time of need as he struggles with his health,’ the insider explained this week.
Eamonn previously praised Ruth for her ‘amazing’ support after he suffered a fall down stairs of their home in November 2022.
In 2016, the star underwent a double-hip replacement operation lasting three-and-a-quarter hours after living with acute pain for many years.
Then in 2018 Eamonn detailed his battle with shingles and how he was struck with the virus on his son Declan’s wedding day.
His years of chronic back pain started in spring 2021 – which came completely out of nowhere. The pain become so severe that it left him reliant on a walking stick, but soon found out the root cause.
Eamonn was seen arriving at the awards in a wheelchair and using a walker as he suffers from chronic back pain and is undergoing painful physio sessions
Claims have emerged that Ruth is torn between helping Eamonn and moving on with her life, with a source telling Bella magazine that Ruth feels ‘terribly guilty’ and seeing recent photos of her ex looking ‘frail has been torture for her’
He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg.
In September 2022, Eamonn was forced to step away from his GB news show as he underwent vital back surgery to aid his chronic back pain.
Then in November 2022 he endured a horrific accident which saw him fall down a set of stairs at his home in Surrey leading him to break his shoulder weeks after his huge spinal surgery.
Shortly before their splie Ruth said she ‘lives in hope’ that his mobility will improve.
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.’
Eamonn smiled at the awards as he supported himself with his aid walker
Discussing his woes at the beginning of the year, Eamonn himself said: ‘It’s as if somebody up there is playing with my life. In the past year I’ve had an operation on my back which went wrong and has confined me to a wheelchair.
‘I’ve fallen and broken my shoulder. Honestly you could not make it up.’
He added: ‘I have tried every treatment, but you go. Maybe I’ll never get out of it,’ which is a harsh reality to face.’
Eamonn admitted he didn’t even know if he would be able to attend the annual TRIC Awards on Tuesday, however his new high tech equipment has allowed him to be more comfortable.
He arrived in a new wheelchair, telling the crowd it was full of ‘gadgets’, before leaving the venue with the help of walker.
Charlotte Hawkins showed her support for her former Sky News co-host at the bash, with the Good Morning Britain star seen hugging Eamonn as he sat in his wheelchair with his colleagues from GB News.
Charlotte Hawkins showed her support for her former Sky News co-host at the bash, with the Good Morning Britain star seen hugging Eamonn as he sat in his wheelchair
Onlookers watched as she giggled with a frail looking Eamonn, while placing her hand on his back during the event.
The pair, who hosted the Sunrise show together between 2007 and 2014, were seen chatting for several minutes.
One onlooker said: ‘Charlotte looked really concerned for Eamonn, she went over from her own table to see him as it would have been pretty difficult for him to move.
‘Charlotte appeared to be comforting him and checking he was okay. They were chatting and then had a bit of a giggle.’
His reunion with her comes just days after it emerged that he is being supported through his marriage split by blonde relationship counsellor Katie Alexander, 42, for the last 12 months.
While his pairing with Lisa is believed to be platonic, sources have told MailOnline that Katie is ‘in love’ with the broadcaster.
Katie, 42, is said to be ‘smitten’ with the presenter after supporting him during his turbulent split.
The divorcee and mother-of-three has grown close to the star after a ‘string of outings’ together, and has reportedly said she is ‘in it for the long haul.’
Now, friends have told MailOnline that she and Eamonn are so close she’s ‘in love’ with him.