VICTORIA
Eamonn Holmes, 57, talks about meeting folk keen to spice up their marriage, and his wife ‘the lovely Ruth’
JOLLY TO FRANCE SUN 24 SEPT, 9PM, ITV
Vic takes her entourage on a trip to France in a bid to try her delicate hand at foreign relations, rubbing shoulders with the cunning King Louis Philippe in the meantime. Ooh la la!
his show is about the T “seven-year itch,” and you meet folk who’ve been trying to keep the spark alive... I was quite shocked by the things we saw, but I tend to go into journalist mode and see it as just a job, and this is the only time I would’ve had access to this life that goes on. Ruth was more emotional about it; saying: “This is disgusting” or “This is awful.” I have to say that everybody we interviewed was very happy with their lifestyle. Can you give us some examples? Well, I was at the most ordinary looking bungalow, in the most ordinary looking suburban street, and this place was called the Ab Fab Club [where “erotic parties” are held]. You think such a place will look like a fancy French boudoir but no; this looked like your granny’s house – and when you opened the door every room had wipeclean surfaces, and people were walking around with no clothes on. But they were chilled in the most ordinary way… Is there anything you’d absolutely rule out yourself? I wouldn’t have an open relationship. I wouldn’t go to a swinging party, and I wouldn’t go to a sex dungeon – grimy, horrible, ghastly things! I just said to Ruth: “Don’t touch anything!” I also don’t understand why men want to be whipped, spanked, beaten or have nappies put on them. Ruth will always say: “I don’t do pain!” Do you think the so-called “seven-year itch” exists? I think it does, because people’s commitment isn’t what it used to be, and I think people love the idea of an excuse like: “Oh, well, it’s been seven years…” It’s hard to be married, and even when you find your soulmate it’s a two-way process. Some think it will be a one-way traffic of niceness; I mean, that’s what I thought… [Eamonn laughs]. You and Ruth celebrated seven years of wedded bliss this year… We did, and we ended up celebrating at home. I’d booked a hotel in Prague but our lives are incredibly busy, it’s chocka-block. Our biggest gripe is packing bags, and Ruth said to me: “Darling, I’m so busy, I don’t want to pack a bag again, would you really mind?” I said: “You can do what you want,” and she was a happier person for it. At any point do you feel your romance needs spicing up? I think everyone’s marriage needs attention, I don’t think you can be lax about these things. But I am very blessed in that I wake up with a woman every day who I fancy above everybody else and who I respect so much. However, we do fight like cat and dog – I’d be lying to you if I said otherwise! But “The lovely Ruth,” as I call her, is the most wonderful wife and mother [Ruth and Eamonn have a son together – Jack, 15]. I’ve found my soulmate. I’ll still love her when she’s 92, it won’t matter how many wrinkles she has… Ruth is on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing…
She is working so hard! And she’s striking a blow for all women written off in their 50s. She’s loving it, though I think Strictly will put a strain on us because she’s not about and Jack and I miss her. She might well be one of the first to go – but if that happens it will be good for my life; Ruth is not a nice person under pressure!