Eamonn and Ruth were both longtime This Morning hosts (Picture:ITV)
Eamonn Holmes has hit out at former ITV colleague Phillip Schofield, stating that he ‘created an atmosphere’ where ‘people hated him’.
Eamonn made the comments in a GB News interview with Dan Wooton on Monday, after Phillip admitted to an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a younger colleague on Friday, resulting in him resigning from ITV and being dropped by his talent agency.
He was a long time presenter of This Morning, with wife Ruth Langsford, but has now left the show.
So why did Eamonn leave? Let’s find out.
Why did Eamonn Holmes leave This Morning?
Eamonn Holmes and wife Ruth Langsford were replaced as the regular Friday presenters of This Morning by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary in November 2020.
The husband and wife duo continued to present This Morning, but were moved to a school holidays and bank holiday slot until December 21, when the pair both announced their departure.
They had both been a regular fixture on the show for 15 years.
Eamonn and Ruth had been a staple on This Morning (Picture: Rex)
Speaking to The Mirror in June 2022, Eamonn said he was not told why he was replaced on the show, adding that he did not quit to join GB News.
He said: ‘The department of disinformation at ITV can put out all the lies they want. I wish somebody would show me the email or the letter or that I was sent to say, “Eamonn, this is why this is coming to an end”. But to tell lies, that I left them to go to GB News… I didn’t – they left me. Let’s get it straight. They left me. I don’t care, because our audience is only up.’
However, The Mail on Sunday reported in February 2022, that Holmes was sacked because viewers no longer wanted to watch him.
An ITV insider told the paper: ‘ITV is always looking at what the viewers want, what the people watching the show want.
‘Put it this way, they wanted change, the viewers didn’t want to watch him any more. Things have to change, they evolve and for him to say there was no explanation isn’t true.’
Following his This Morning exit, Eamonn joined GB News to ‘give a voice to the unheard’.
‘I’ve spent my career on broadcasting firsts and start-ups and GB News is one of the most exciting yet,’ Eamonn said at the time.
Ruth and Eamonn had been replaced by Alison and Dermot (Picture: Rex)
‘It’s just the kind of shake-up the industry needs.
‘I’ve admired GB News from the beginning for its clever mix of punchy debate but delivered with warmth and even some fun.
‘To me the greatest honour in journalism is to give a voice and respect to the unheard, and that’s exactly what GB News is all about.’
A spokeswoman for ITV said: ‘We would like to wish Eamonn all of the very best in his new role.
‘As a duo, Eamonn and Ruth have been part of the This Morning presenting team for the last 15 years and we thank Eamonn for all of his hard work and contribution to the show.’
Ruth continues to work for ITV, as a presenter on Loose Women, and returned to guest present a week of This Morning episodes in August 2022, with Rylan Clark.
This Morning is on ITV One on weekdays from 10am.
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Eamonn and wife Ruth were regulars on the show for 15 years
