Eamonn Holmes was a long-time fixture on This Morning, co-hosting the Friday segments for 15 years alongside his ex-wife, Ruth Langsford. The pair may have parted ways recently but they were beloved by many viewers on the show.
Discover our latest podcast
Over the years, Eamonn became known for his witty personality and his unique dynamic with Ruth, making them a popular duo on screen. The two had been together for 26 years and their off-screen chemistry showed on-screen.
However, their time on the show came to an abrupt end in November 2020, when they were replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary. While Ruth continues to work with ITV, Eamonn left the network and joined GB News, where he hosts their breakfast show.
Insider reveals why Eamonn Holmes was let go from This Morning
After the couple departed from the show, many claims were made about the potential reason behind it. Claims that he was let go because of the show's rating or viewers' choice have been questioned by Holmes.
Amidst this, a source close to Phillip Schofield has revealed that Homes’ exit from This Morning wasn’t just about the show’s ratings.
One factor that allegedly contributed to his exit was the dislike ITV boss Martin Frizell had for Holmes’ eating habits on the show, reports The Sun. The source said:
Eamonn and Ruth leaving was all down to ratings – and because Martin joked that he couldn’t bear to watch him eat on TV.
Chefs do cooking segments on This Morning and Martin’s dislike of the sight of Eamonn chomping on whatever had been cooked up became a joke that he shared among people working on the show.
However, it wasn’t just Eamonn’s eating that supposedly made him unpopular. The same source noted:
Ruth was a delight and was loved by the team. Eamonn was not as popular.
Despite this, Eamonn has always maintained that his This Morningslot rated well compared to other Friday presenters, challenging claims that his exit was purely based on ratings.
What has Holmes said about his departure over the years?
Holmes, known for being outspoken, has not held back from sharing his own perspective on why he was let go from This Morning. He has consistently denied claims that his exit was solely based on declining ratings, arguing that he was never properly informed by ITV about the reasons for his removal, reports Metro.co.uk.
Speaking to the Mirror in 2022, Holmes insisted that ITV had been putting out lies that he quit the show to join GB News, but that wasn’t the case. He explained:
The department of disinformation at ITV can put out all the lies they want. I wish somebody would show me the email or the letter or that I was sent to say, “Eamonn, this is why this is coming to an end”.
But to tell lies that I left them to go to GB News… I didn’t – they left me. Let’s get it straight. They left me. I don’t care, because our audience is only up.
Read more:
Who is Katie Alexander? Everything we know about Eamonn Holmes' alleged new girlfriend
Eamonn Holmes caught following half-naked women on Instagram amid split announcement
Sources used:
The Sun: Eamonn Holmes lost This Morning gig as ITV boss ‘hated the way he SCOFFED food on show’
Metro.co.uk: Why did Eamonn Holmes leave This Morning?
Mirror: Eamonn Holmes says single sentence 'cost him and Ruth their This Morning jobs'
