Much-loved TV host Ruth Langsford is now seeing ‘light in her future’ following the tough 18 months following her split from fellow telly presenter, Eamonn Holmes
Ruth Langsford has admitted she encountered a dark period after her split from husband Eamonn Holmes, but has survived the ordeal and would one day be open to marrying again. The TV host, 65, has spoken out in-depth for the first time since she announced a split from Eamonn in May last year.
After 14 years of previously being married, Ruth is now getting used to single life, but admitted the last 18 months had seen some testing times, and she is still seeing a counsellor to talk through any issues that arise. Sounding defiant, Ruth says: “I definitely see light in the future where I didn’t before. Before, I saw darkness and was thinking, ‘Oh my God, what’s going to happen?’.”
Quoting the famous Gloria Gaynor song, she added: “But now the fear has gone, because what do you do? Do you crumble? Do you lay down and die? Oh no, not I. I will survive.” The Loose Women star and Eamonn announced their break-up last year, amidst reports they had been living separate lives for some time already. Since then, Ruth has kept a dignified silence but had to watch on as Eamonn began a new relationship with girlfriend Katie Alexander, whom he has regularly taken to events and on holiday.
Ruth remains single herself but insists she would be open to a relationship herself in the future. She adds: “Never say never to starting a new relationship. I haven’t been put off having a relationship. I haven’t even been put off marriage, but I’m definitely not actively looking, and part of that is because I’ve realised I’m actually quite good on my own. I am independent and quite strong. It has taken me a bit of time [to realise that] and I don’t know what lies ahead, but that chapter now feels quite exciting. It’s not as scary as I thought.”
Ruth, who shares son Jack, 23, with Eamonn, took time off work from fronting Loose Women when the split was first announced in May last year and returned in July. Sources at the time told the Mirror she had been left devastated by what had happened and how quickly Eamonn moved on. In an interview in January she also conceded it had been “very difficult” and “very painful” in the months that followed their separation.
In the new interview with woman&home magazine , Ruth said: “I started counselling when Eamonn and I separated, and I’m still having it. It is very powerful and very useful. It gives me tools to deal with things. My counsellor has probably seen us on TV, but she doesn’t know either of us so doesn’t get involved and doesn’t judge.
“The end of a very long relationship takes a lot of unravelling. Counselling helps you move on from it, to not be held back.”
Ruth is now back working full time on Loose Women and other TV projects, but the ITV series is one of a number of daytime series which will see cost cutting measures next year. The move will see Loose Women air for 30 weeks of the year instead of 52. ITV have insisted the current panel will continue but like hundreds of staff Ruth is waiting to find out more details.
She says: “Television is an exciting job but if it stopped tomorrow, I’d do something else. It would be a shame, but I’ve had a great run so I’d go and work in a garden centre because I love gardening. I never feel settled because I’m self-employed. However, as I’ve got older, I try not to fret about it.
“I’ve lost my job many times during my career – through a programme finishing, a new head of a department making changes, or a whole company closing. When I was with Television South West, we lost our franchise and everybody lost their jobs. At the time, you panic and think you’re never going to work again. Yet here I still am. All I can say to the young people who are losing their jobs or going through changes, no matter what your job, is, ‘This is difficult, but you will be OK.’ Sadly, in most industries there is no job security any more, nothing stays the same, and we all have to adapt and move on. It’s not easy, but we survive.”
Thankfully as well as working for ITV, Ruth has a successful business with the QVC shopping channel where she has her own clothes range and will soon bring out an Autumn/Winter 2026 collection. And now she is also going to become an author too. In July the Mirror revealed she was in talks with a range of publishers and she has now begun putting pen to paper.
She says: “I’m writing my first book! I’ve been approached about doing one many times over the years and always said no, but now is the right time. Feeling Fabulous is not an autobiography, but about the life lessons I’ve learnt in my 65 years – good, happy, bad, sad, and how I’m feeling about moving forward at 65 on my own, in a new chapter. It will be released early next year, and I hope people will find it uplifting, helpful and funny.”
And on a lighter note, Ruth also told the magazine she does have one new love in her life – a new vigour for exercise and some classes to stay fit. She says: “My new love? Pilates. I’m hooked!” She adds: “I did it 23 years ago to help a really bad back following my pregnancy with Jack. Back then, it wasn’t so popular. A lot of dancers did it, but I had no clue!
“I looked up the Pilates Foundation and chose one of three instructors in my area – a woman who, it turns out, lived one street away. I did Pilates for a year with her and it did help my back, but then I drifted off. I recently got back in touch with her and we’re working together again. I’m loving it, to the point where I’ve started thinking, ‘Have I just found my exercise thing?!’ It’s hard b****y work. I do mat and reformer Pilates, and six years ago bought a small home reformer machine from QVC, which sat in the garage until I dusted it off recently.
“I’m now doing Pilates almost every day and feeling stronger. I can feel it in my core, my waist and my legs. It’s not about weight loss, but strength and movement. Elderly people fall over because they lose coordination and core strength. I don’t want that to be me!”
