Eamonn Holmes

Eamonn Holmes (; born 3 December 1959) is a Northern Irish broadcaster and journalist.

Holmes co-presented ITV's breakfast programme for GMTV from 1993 to 2005, before presenting Sunrise on Sky News between 2005 and 2016. From 2006 to 2021 he co-presented ITV's This Morning with his then-wife Ruth Langsford on Fridays and also during school holidays. In 2022 he began presenting the breakfast programme on GB News, originally alongside Isabel Webster. Holmes has also fronted a range of factual and entertainment series, including How the Other Half Lives (2015–2019) and It's Not Me, It's You (2016) for Channel 5.

Holmes was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting in the 2018 New Year Honours. He supports several charities, including Dogs Trust, Variety GB, and the Northern Ireland Kidney Patients' Association.

Early life and education Eamonn Holmes was born on 3 December 1959 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. and St Malachy's College, Belfast, He later worked with UTV sports reporters Leslie Dawes and Jackie Fullerton, assisting in coverage of sporting events across the region. He succeeded Gary Gillespie and Gerry Kelly, who had replaced Gloria Hunniford earlier that year. Hunniford had presented the programme since its launch in 1979.

Alongside his news work, Holmes hosted several other UTV productions, including the Miss Northern Ireland gala specials in 1985 and 1986. During his time with the station he won a Hometown Radio Award. He left UTV in 1986 to join the BBC. and fronted ITV's coverage of the Phil Taylor vs. Raymond van Barneveld darts event at the Wembley Conference Centre in 1999.

In 1993, Holmes joined GMTV,

From 2001 to 2007, he presented the BBC National Lottery game show Jet Set.

Six months later, he joined Sky News to present the relaunched Sunrise programme.

Between December 2005 and March 2007, Holmes presented the BBC quiz show SUDO-Q. In 2006, he began presenting This Morning on ITV on Friday editions, continuing until 2021.

Holmes hosted the US game show The Rich List in 2006. In 2009, he co-presented ITV's The Feelgood Factor with Myleene Klass, The pair later presented the Channel 5 factual series Eamonn & Ruth: How the Other Half Lives, which aired from 2015 to 2017.

In 2016, Holmes presented the Channel 5 panel show It's Not Me, It's You,

Holmes was one of three relief presenters on Good Morning Britain between 2017 and 2018.

In December 2021, it was announced that Holmes would join GB News, where he began presenting its new breakfast show with Isabel Webster from 4 January 2022.

In February 2020, Holmes lost a First Tier Tribunal regarding his employment status under IR35 rules, with the judge determining that his contract with ITV's This Morning amounted to employment. During the proceedings, Holmes described himself as "one of the best live television presenters in the country".

Other television work In 2001, Holmes appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. In 2013, he was a judge on the CBBC talent search Blue Peter – You Decide. and in 2015 was widely tipped as a potential housemate for Celebrity Big Brother 16. He has been a panellist on Through the Keyhole, In 2005, he hosted a show on London station Magic 105.4.

In 2016, he presented Let's Talk With Eamonn Holmes on Talkradio, broadcast on Saturdays from 6 am to 8 am and Sundays from 11 am to 1 pm.

From January 2018 until February 2020, he presented the weekday drivetime show on Talkradio.

Other work Holmes writes a column for The People newspaper. His autobiography, This is MY Life, was published in May 2006. The title references broadcaster Eamonn Andrews, after whom he was named. The book includes accounts of his time at GMTV. he later instructed his lawyers to send a complaint to the BBC. The corporation issued an apology and said that no further sketches featuring Holmes would be broadcast. The complaint and its outcome attracted unfavourable comment from some media writers and online observers.

In October 2011, while presenting This Morning, Holmes used the word "retarded" in reference to singer Jonathan Wilkes. He apologised on air following complaints from viewers.

Later that month, Holmes was criticised for remarks made during an interview in which he suggested that a rape victim might consider using taxis in future. ITV stated that his comments were intended as general safety advice and were not intended to imply blame.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Holmes drew criticism after comments on This Morning in which he questioned the dismissal of conspiracy theories linking 5G telecommunications to the virus.

Personal life In 1985, Holmes married Gabrielle Holmes. They have three children. The couple separated in 1994, a period Holmes later described as being affected by the demands of his work and the death of his father. They have one son. The couple sold exclusive rights to cover the wedding to Hello! magazine, which featured the event across two issues in July 2010. In May 2024, Holmes and Langsford announced that they were to divorce after 14 years of marriage.

Holmes received an honorary degree from Queen's University Belfast in 2006 for services to broadcasting, and later received a further honorary degree from Staffordshire University.

Holmes supports Manchester United F.C., and delivered one of the eulogies at the funeral of George Best in December 2005.

Holmes and Langsford have been patrons of Dogs Trust, and adopted their dog, Maggie, from the charity in 2011. In 2014, they supported the Dementia Friends initiative run by the Alzheimer's Society.

In April 2015, Holmes became a celebrity ambassador for Variety, the Children's Charity. In January 2016, he became a patron of the Northern Ireland Kidney Patients' Association.

Health In October 2022, Holmes suffered a fall at home, resulting in a fractured shoulder. He took several months away from his presenting duties on GB News while recovering.

In 2024, Holmes discussed a number of ongoing health issues, including a double hip replacement in 2016, spinal surgery in September 2022, and chronic back pain that had left him using a wheelchair.

In April 2026, Holmes was admitted to hospital after experiencing a stroke. GB News said he was recovering and requested privacy while he underwent treatment.

Filmography Television Film Year Show Role Notes 2005 Robots Bigmouth Executive & Forge (Re-dubbed voice) 2014 Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie RTÉ newsreader Cameo roleLee 2019 Wonder Park Uncle Tony (Re-dubbed voice)

Radio Year Title Role Notes 2003–2009 The Eamonn Holmes Show Presenter Sports show on BBC Radio 5 Live 2005–?? Sunday Afternoons Presenter Sundays, 47pm on Magic FM 2008 The Michael Parkinson Show Guest presenter BBC Radio 2 show 2016 Let's Talk with Eamonn Holmes Presenter Sundays, 11am1pm on Talkradio 2018–2020 Drivetime with Eamonn Holmes Presenter Weekdays, 47pm on Talkradio

Awards and honours Holmes was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting in the 2018 New Year Honours. He collected his OBE from Queen Elizabeth II on 1 June 2018.

Year Group Award Result 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011TRIC Awards Satellite/Digital TV Personality 2013 News Presenter/Reporter Legends of Industry Award Services to Broadcasting and Journalism 2016 TRIC Awards News Presenter/Reporter 2018, 2022 TRIC Awards News Presenter