The Real Reason Behind Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford’s Split as TV’s Golden Couple Call It Quits

When television’s golden couple Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes announced their separation in May, it sent shockwaves through the industry. The news that the couple, deemed to have one of the strongest marriages in showbiz, were seeking a divorce after 14 years hit hard. The TV presenters, both 64, met in 1997 through their mutual friend, television presenter Sally Meen, and quickly fell in love.

The bombshell two months ago left everyone searching for answers, and it has since been alleged that Ruth found messages between her husband and another woman on a laptop. Friends close to the Loose Women presenter, who is returning today after taking time away from the ITV show to deal with the breakdown of her marriage, revealed that there is no going back for the couple.

Ruth has been left “hurt” after discovering her husband is being consoled by another woman, with whom he’s been on a string of outings. Katie Alexander struck up a friendship with Eamonn over the past couple of years, and he is said to have taken her to a safari park, a Manchester United game, and a Beyonce gig.

The relationship counselor, 42, has accompanied the GB News presenter on several outings over the past year and has been photographed at his home. Ruth was largely unaware of their friendship, and Katie’s pals are at pains to point out that their friendship has only grown close once the stars’ marriage is over.

A friend of Ruth said: “Ruth was hurt when she learned about Eamonn’s friendship with another woman, but she is strong and she will be back soon with a smile on her face, putting her best foot forward, as she always does. She needs a bit of time to regroup after everything that’s gone on, which is understandable, but she plans to return to Loose Women, with renewed vigor, in July.”

A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Ruth was completely taken by surprise when she saw the messages. She had no idea what had been going on between them. She was devastated. Not only was she very upset but she was also angry.” This, coupled with reports of explosive rows and Ruth admitting Eamonn’s ill health was “testing” for their family, led many to think the pair had secretly split weeks before their announcement.

Speaking in the wake of their separation, one insider said: “It’s a very sorry tale. They are both so loved by the British public, they won over so many people on This Morning which they hosted for more than a decade. They were as close to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan as you could get,” reports MailOnline.

It’s believed that both Eamonn and Ruth are keen to finalize their divorce soon, but there’s still a lot to sort out behind the scenes. Insiders claim Ruth is set to “barely mention” the breakup when she makes her comeback on Loose Women. At last month’s TRIC awards, a candid Eamonn shared: “I’m not OK. This is not a good time at all.” When quizzed about the future of his relationship with Ruth, Eamonn said: “It’s too early to say but I hope we can still be friends.”

Eamonn and Ruth’s romance began in 1997 after being introduced by friends, leading to over a decade of dating before Eamonn proposed. The couple tied the knot in 2010, but they hadn’t been seen together publicly for two years prior to their split, and in May they stunned fans by confirming it is all over in a statement.