Eamonn and Ruth talk telly
This Morning’s Eamonn and Ruth on why sharing a sofa first thing would be disastrous for their marriage
Two people getting up at hideous o’clock in the morning is not healthy
Ruth
When TV Times sits down for a chat with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, we’re delighted to see that their outfits are perfectly matched, with Ruth, 57, wearing navy trousers and a white blouse and Eamonn, also 57, in white trousers and a navy top – and they are both sporting grey shoes!
However, our vision of marital harmony is shattered when our conversation with the pair – who this week start their regular summer stint hosting This Morning – takes an alarming turn towards divorce…
Congratulations on your perfectly co-ordinated outfits!
Ruth: It’s our summer look! It was totally accidental – co-ordinated outfits are my worst nightmare. Eamonn: Before every This Morning I say to Ruth, ‘What are you wearing?’ and she says, ‘Never you mind!’ All I want to do is wear something that’ll complement what she wears, but that is her idea of naffness. Ruth: It’s just twee, like Howard and Hilda’s matching jumpers in Ever Decreasing Circles. Eamonn: Ruth does not like coordination, which pretty much sums up our relationship!
This is your 12th year hosting
This Morning over the summer, is it still a fun thing to do?
Ruth: I love being out filming the show on London’s South Bank in the summer when people come up to chat to us.
Eamonn: Yes, more of the show will be outside, which is joyous. But we don’t want too much good weather, because we want people to be indoors watching telly! It will be nice because it’ll be the first time I’ve done summer on This Morning without having done breakfast TV earlier in the day [Eamonn left Sky News’ Sunrise last October].
Do you miss breakfast TV though? You recently sat in for Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain.
Eamonn: Breakfast TV is still very me. The bad thing about getting a taste of all that again is that, when the big news stories break, it’s strange that you’re no longer a part of it. When I do breakfast TV, I jump out of bed with a spring in my step because it’s a great privilege to wake people up with something they didn’t know. Piers is brilliant at making people pay attention. He’s kept breakfast TV relevant in changing times.
Ruth, would you be up for sharing a breakfast sofa with Eamonn?
Ruth: No!
Eamonn: There was a plan for us to do that a few years ago, but Ruth took two seconds to say, ‘Forget that!’ Ruth: I was flattered, but we’d probably be divorced in about six months! Two people getting up at hideous o’clock in the morning and always being across the news is not healthy or fair to our son, Jack [now 15]. I love my work, but family’s more important. If Eamonn wanted to do it again, I’d be behind him, but it wouldn’t be right for both of us.
Do you still learn from watching each other present?
Eamonn: Very much so. I’m very direct, but when I watch Ruth
I see her gentleness, empathy and her common sense, and I realise there is so much that I don’t know. Ruth: When Eamonn gets involved in the big news stories you can see his passion for it. We make a good team because we are very different – and it’s all about compromise.
Have you any summer plans?
Eamonn: We’ll stay away from airports because it’s just hectic. After working all week, we like to spend time at home, which is a real treat. I get lots of DIY things done. Not personally – I hire a man to do it! Ruth: Eamonn is very house-proud. He always spots if a fence needs painting or a door handle needs fixing. I call him the house inspector!