Eamonn Holmes turned down a lucrative offer from ITV Celebrity Big Brother bosses, admitting he feared being away from his girlfriend Katie Alexander and a possible lack of support in the house

Eamonn Holmes refused offers from Celebrity Big Brother bosses.

The GB News anchor, 65, had been at the top of the list of who producers wanted in the upcoming series which will air next year. Following his divorce from Loose Women’s Ruth Langsford after 14 years of marriage, they believed Eamonn would have been the ideal housemate.

But Eamonn had feared that due to his mobility issues, he wouldn’t have the right support in the house and also worried about missing his new girlfriend, Katie Alexander. It comes amidst reports that the former This Morning legend could be planning to pop the question to his lover.

Now, a source have said that while Eamonn was “flattered” by the offer – it’s not something he’s willing to take on at the moment. Speaking to the Mirror, our source said: “Eamonn was approached to do Celebrity Big Brother. He was flattered by the offer and it was a huge six-figure sum.

Eamonn didn’t think being in the house would work for him given his mobility issues ( 
Image:
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Bosses believed he would be the ideal housemate following his split from Ruth Langsford ( 
Image:
Mike Marsland/WireImage)

“After giving it some serious thought, he ultimately turned it down. The logistics of navigating the house and needing a wheelchair really concerned him and he didn’t feel confident that the support he’d need would be there.” Eamonn has, in recent months, been using mobility aids such as a walking stick and most recently, an electric wheelchair following major surgery on his back.

However, the outspoken broadcaster has opened up about being able to use a walker for shorter distances after enduring an “epidemic of pain”. Our source went on to add: “Eamonn also values his time at home with his partner Katie, and being locked away from her for such a long period wasn’t something he could come to terms with.

“The producers were really keen to have Eamonn on the show, they saw him as a huge draw for viewers and were willing to pull out all the stops. With his controversial opinions he would made the perfect housemate. But Eamonn knows his limits, and the idea of being in such an unpredictable environment, without Katie and the support he relies on, made it a no-go.”

They went on to say that Katie had been a “huge support” for Eamonn after his bombshell split from Ruth, having dated the star since 1996. “It was a tough decision for Eamonn because the financial offer was incredibly tempting, but he has to prioritize his health and mobility,” our insider added.

But Eamonn is said to have believed that “with all the challenges” of the Celebrity Big Brother house, it didn’t feel “realistic” for him to enter, given his use of aids such as a wheelchair when it came to manoeuvring it around the property. Despite thinking “long and hard about it,” the “practical” star failed to see how it would work.

The source commented: “Producers were desperate to have Eamonn involved and even tried to address some of his concerns. The money was astronomical, but for him, it’s not just about the pay cheque. The thought of being away from his partner and his home comforts didn’t feel worth the stress.”

A spokesperson for Eamonn declined to comment.