Eamonn Holmes (Pic: Kevin Scott) Eamonn Holmes spent his holiday last week showing friend Katie Alexander his hometown of Belfast, as sources close to the couple claim they are “in it for the long haul”. The 64-year-old presenter and his wife of 14 years, Ruth Langsford, also 64, announced in May that they would be ending their marriage. Holmes has been at the centre of rumours that he was dating Ms Alexander, a 42-year-old relationship therapist.
It was rumoured that he had already popped the question after she was spotted wearing a sparkling diamond ring. However, Holmes reportedly sent his estranged wife a message to reassure her that he was not engaged. The Northern Irish presenter is set to return to his GB News Breakfast show this week, having spent the last week on summer break.
The Sun reported that the new couple were also spotted in Carrickfergus at American diner Papa Browns. A member of staff said: “He came in four days in a row. I noticed his girlfriend had an English accent.
They looked happy. “He appeared quite frail and it took a minute to recognise him, but he was always very polite and friendly. “Both of them appeared at ease with being seen together.
Eamonn really enjoyed it.” According to the Daily Mail, sources close to the couple say they’ve been offered “big money” for the first official photos of them together. The source said: “They’ve been offered some decent money for the first pictures of them together.
“Katie and Eamonn are definitely in it for the long haul. She says she loves him and he loves her.” Holmes is reportedly smitten with her and they have taken their relationship “to the next level”, spending most weekends together at his Richmond flat.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, a source close to Ms Alexander said she is keen to be more public about their relationship. The source said: “Katie just wants to get it over and done with but Eamonn is less keen because he doesn’t want to hurt Ruth’s feelings.” Friends close to Langsford told the Daily Mail that the rumours about her estranged husband’s potential engagement have “upset her”.
A source from her camp told OK Magazine: “Ruth has been trying her best to be respectful to Eamonn for the sake of both their families and especially Jack. “She is still wearing her wedding ring and doesn’t feel right taking it off at the moment and she wanted to be as respectful as possible and does not want to invite any more speculation about their situation. “But seeing Eamonn’s new woman wearing an engagement ring over the weekend really upset her, not because of Eamonn moving on, but because she finds it hard having their marriage and split back in the limelight again.
“She would prefer it was done in private but she understands that there will be interest – it just feels like another blow – and she feels embarrassed about it all.” Holmes and Langsford had been together for 27 years, but had been living “separate lives” for two years before announcing their divorce. The pair hosted This Morning together from 2006 until 2021, when they were replaced by Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond.
They have one son, Jack, who was born in 2002. Sources claim that Eamonn’s health struggles and chronic back pain played a large part in the breakdown of their relationship, as Ruth felt more like a “carer”..
