Ruth Langsford Reveals Emotional Trauma After 'Abrupt' Split from Eamonn Holmes
ITV presenter Ruth Langsford has publicly shared the profound emotional impact of her divorce from former co-host Eamonn Holmes, describing how she was left feeling "devastated and broken" by the sudden end of their long-term relationship.
A Relationship That Ended in Shock
The Loose Women star, now 65, was in a relationship with Holmes for 27 years, during which they worked together on This Morning and shared a son. Their marriage lasted 14 years before what Langsford describes as a "blindsiding" divorce in May 2024.
"In my opinion, I had a very happy marriage," Langsford told the Daily Mail's Weekend Magazine. "We had gone from being a couple, traversing the usual ups and downs of a marriage, to an abrupt end. It was a huge shock."
The Emotional Fallout and Grief
Langsford explained that a counselor helped her understand she was experiencing genuine grief and trauma. "This is grief. This is trauma, and you are in shock. Let it all out," the counselor told her.
"I just didn't think I'd find myself here, and I wasn't strong at the start," Langsford admitted. "I was broken. Broken heart. Broken dreams. We all have an image of how we think our life and future is going to be. This wasn't mine."
Catastrophic Thinking and Recovery
The presenter revealed she began to "catastrophise" after the split, worrying about being alone and questioning her future. "I was literally asking, 'What's going to become of me?', like some sad, lonely woman in a Jane Austen novel," she said.
However, Langsford found perspective through age and experience. "Ruth, you're not going to die from this. I mean you are going to die, one day, but you're not going to die from divorce," she told herself.
The Healing Power of Therapy
In the wake of her divorce, Langsford sought professional counseling and continues to benefit from it. "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," she told Woman & Home.
She described her counselor as someone who "just listens and says: 'Have you thought about this?' or 'Why did you feel like that?'" This therapeutic relationship has provided her with clarity and emotional tools for moving forward.
Moving Forward with Strength
Despite the emotional challenges, Langsford has channeled her energy into productive outlets. She has written her first book, Feeling Fabulous, and maintained her television career. The therapy has helped her develop greater independence and resilience.
"I think I know myself very well, so it has just been calming," she said of her counseling experience. "It makes me question how I'm feeling."
Langsford's journey highlights the complex emotional landscape that follows the end of a long-term relationship, particularly when it comes unexpectedly. Her openness about seeking professional help and working through grief serves as a testament to the healing process after personal trauma.
