Eamonn Holmes, a familiar face on GB News, recently made a rare and heartfelt remark about marriage during a Valentine’s Day discussion with co-presenter Ellie Costello. 

The television host, who has been navigating life after his split from longtime partner Ruth Langsford, reflected on his past love life in an unexpectedly sentimental moment.

Eamonn’s Heartfelt Valentine’s Day Confession

While chatting on air, Costello posed a lighthearted question, asking Holmes if he could recall his first Valentine. Without hesitation, the 65-year-old presenter replied, “I married her.” 

His response took Costello by surprise, prompting her to warmly react, “Aww, that’s so nice.”

Holmes was referring to his first wife, Gabrielle Holmes, with whom he tied the knot in 1985. 

The couple shared three children—Declan, Rebecca, and Niall—before their marriage ended after a decade. 

Despite their separation, his off-the-cuff remark suggested that he still holds fond memories of their time together.

Challenges in Eamonn’s First Marriage

Eamonn and Gabrielle’s relationship faced several hurdles, many of which stemmed from his demanding career in television. As a presenter for GMTV, Holmes spent much of his time working in London while his family remained in Belfast.

In his 2008 autobiography, This Is My Life: The Autobiography, Holmes detailed the strain this arrangement placed on their marriage. He admitted that although he personally didn’t struggle with the long-distance setup, Gabrielle did. “We tended to be apart during the week because of my job, and I had no trouble with that—though Gabrielle obviously did,” he wrote.

He further explained that his frequent absences left his wife and children forming a life of their own, which made him feel like an outsider during his weekend visits.

The couple’s relationship faced an even greater challenge when Eamonn’s father passed away in 1991. Grieving the loss, he longed for emotional support from Gabrielle but sensed that she had already become detached from their marriage. He recalled in his book: “Gabrielle was increasingly indifferent and I didn’t know why. I needed her close, I needed her to reach me and ease my pain, but she had concerns of her own, principal of which was an impending birth.”

Ultimately, the distance and growing disconnect between them led to their marriage breaking down.

Finding Love Again with Ruth Langsford

Following his split from Gabrielle, Holmes found love again with television presenter Ruth Langsford. The two were introduced by a GMTV colleague, and sparks flew instantly.

After dating for 14 years, the couple tied the knot in a lavish wedding ceremony at Hampshire’s Elvetham Hall on June 26, 2010. The event was covered in Hello! magazine across two separate issues, highlighting the grandeur of the occasion.

For years, Eamonn and Ruth became one of British television’s most beloved couples, co-hosting This Morning together until their departure from the show in 2021. Their professional and personal partnership seemed strong, but in private, they had begun to drift apart.

In a candid interview with TalkTV, Eamonn reflected on their relationship dynamic, admitting, “Although we live together, we’re not really together… Ruth likes her own space [and] when we do This Morning, it’s a rare time we actually interrelate.”

Shock Split After 28 Years Together

Fans were stunned when news broke in May 2023 that Eamonn and Ruth had decided to separate. After 28 years together—14 of which they spent as a married couple—their relationship had come to an unexpected end.

Since the split, Holmes has gone public with his new relationship with dating counselor Katie Alexander, 43. Meanwhile, Langsford has remained single and focused on her work.

Despite the changes in their personal lives, both continue to be prominent figures in the media industry. Holmes remains a key presenter on GB News, while Langsford continues her role on Loose Women and other television projects.

A Moment of Reflection

Eamonn Holmes’ Valentine’s Day remark served as a rare glimpse into his emotions regarding his past relationships. While he has moved forward with a new chapter in his life, his words suggested that he still holds sentimental memories of his first marriage.

As he and Ruth Langsford continue their separate journeys, they remain in the public eye—each forging their own path after nearly three decades together.

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