This Morning presenters Eamonn Holmes, 61, and his wife Ruth Langsford, 61, have addressed their upcoming festive plans. The ITV couple have opened up about the heartbreaking reason behind their decision, but insisted that it’s “not a problem”.
Eamonn and Ruth explained that they will spend Christmas apart with a “sea dividing us”, as the pair go their separate ways.
The couple both have elderly mums they want to spend Christmas with.
Ruth’s 93-year-old mum Joan resides in Surrey, and Eamonn’s mother Josephine in his native Belfast, meaning they can’t visit both on Christmas Day together.
Speaking in a new interview, the pair addressed the decision to be apart during the festive period.
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Eamonn explained: “We have this issue now, in that we’ve got a sea dividing us. We often have a dilemma of whether I go to Belfast, whether Ruth comes with me.
“But Ruth wants to be with her mum. My mother is 93 this year. It’s easier for us often to be apart.”
Ruth added to Woman and Home magazine: “Being apart for Christmas has never been a problem.
“I wouldn’t be going to Belfast this year, because I need to be with my mum. It’s about family for me.”
The couple have been together for over two decades and married for 11 years. They share 19-year-old son Jack.
Eamonn shares his three eldest children Declan, 32, Rebecca, 30, and Niall, 28, with his ex-wife Gabrielle.
Earlier this year, the ITV star recently announced the arrival of his first grandchild.
Eamonn shared that his son Declan and wife Jenny welcomed their baby girl in July. They reside in Belfast.
Meanwhile, the TV couple have opened up about the secret to a successful relationship.
The pair agreed that it comes down to having respect for each other.
“We always laugh at the term ‘couple goals’, it’s such a modern expression,” Ruth commented.
“But 25 years is a long time to be together and I think working together as well, not many people work with their partner as well, so I think a lot of respect comes into it.”