Eamonn Holmes, 59, was joined on This Morning with his co-star and wife Ruth Langsford, 59, where he discussed students attending university. The TV personality slammed the notion that people have to attend university before he blasted the institution as a “money-making scam”. Speaking on the show, Eamonn quizzed: “All this university talk before the break. All I was saying, was why is there this intention that everybody should go to university?” Ruth replied: “I don’t think there is. There are great apprenticeships now.”
Eamon disagreed before he added: “It’s the biggest money making scam in the country. If you go to any city near you I bet the university is building halls of residence – THEY’RE doing it in Belfast, in Manchester – there’s money in it for somebody. It has to be said.”
He continued: “It was education, education, education under the Blair government and as a result you can’t get dental nurses. You can’t get hairdressers or motor mechanics.”
Ruth interjected: “I think there is more of a turn towards apprenticeships aren’t there? You know, better apprenticeship schemes?”
He replied: “I don’t know darling. All I know is, is that there’s this emphasis on going to university before you’ve had any sort of job. Which is rubbish.”
His remarks comes after the presenting pair discussed the student loan system in the UK with money expert Martin Lewis.
The presenter later took to Twitter to respond to a social media user who took aim at Eamonn for his remarks on the show.
The person in question wrote: “Everyone who wants to go to university and has worked to get the grades has the right to @EamonnHolmes that’s the point! Making sure the right to an education isn’t limited to those who can afford it sheesh @itvthismorning just keep it informative please!”(sic)
Eamonn replied in view of his 996,000 followers: “My point was aimed at employers.”
Elsewhere, the TV anchor couldn’t resist teasing his wife Ruth about her fear of being trapped in a lift in a cheeky tweet.
The This Morning presenter addressed his co-host’s phobia in response to a new Channel 5 programme entitled Trapped in a Lift: When Elevators Kill.
The TV personality tweeted: “Trapped in a Lift – When Elevators Kill… I kid you not.”
Seeming excited to watch the show, Eamonn added: “That’s tonight’s viewing for me on @Channel5.
“I can safely say if already phobic @RuthieeL gets wind of this, she will never enter a lift again.”
Fans rushed to Twitter to share their views about Eamonn’s revelation.
One person empathised with Ruth as they replied: “This is one of my phobias. I’ll avoid that then!”
Another Twitter user added: “Have to go in them every day and been trapped a few times, that’s when the panic and sweating kicks in.”
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10.30am.