Who is Eamonn Holmes' first wife and why they split after decade-long marriage
26.05.2024 - 12:15
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford have left many stunned by confirming rumours that their 14-year marriage has ended.
The pair were seen as one of the most genuine TV marriages, despite their on-air squabbles, which they always maintained were rooted in affection. While it's hard to picture one without the other, this isn't Eamonn's first experience with divorce, having previously been married to Gabrielle Holmes with whom he shares three children.
Details about his first wife are scarce, but reports suggest they met in 1976 and fell deeply in love. However, their relationship didn't withstand the test of time, and they separated in 1996.
Although Eamonn has claimed they had an "amicable divorce", things weren't so straightforward when they realised their marriage was crumbling.
In his 2008 book, This Is My Life: The Autobiography, he hinted that Gabrielle became distant after his father's death. He wrote: "Gabrielle was increasingly indifferent and I didn't know why. I needed her close, I needed her to reach me and ease my pain, but she had concerns of her own, principal of which was an impending birth, reports the Mirror.
Eamonn and Gabrielle share three children together, Declan, Rebecca and Niall. Eamonn also has another son named Jack with Ruth.
He cited his job as a contributing factor to their split. He said: "That was the first time I realised there wasn't that emotional support there for me, though I probably had suspected it."
He further added: "By that stage we tended to be apart during the week because of my job, and I had no trouble with that - though Gabrielle obviously did.I always believed absence would make the heart grow fonder and, in fact, the commuting heightened my desperation for her, made the time less