TV star Ruth Langsford will take the month off work from Loose Women following her shock split from Eamonn Holmes after 14 years of marriage

Ruth Langsford is taking a break from Loose Women following her split from Eamonn Holmes (
Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Ruth Langsford is to take the rest of the month off from ITV ’s Loose Women but will be back on screen next month, according to pals.

The presenter has been left “hurt” by the discovery that, in the wake of their separation, her husband Eamonn Holmes is being consoled by another woman with whom he’s been on a string of outings.

Ruth is said to have known nothing of their day trips together until recently and it has been described as a key factor in their decision to call time on their relationship. She has also been left “deeply upset” over suggestions that she’s walked away from her marriage because of Eamonn’s ongoing health woes.

Friends insist there is “no way back” for their marriage, which is heading for the divorce court. Ruth, 64, will extend her time off for the rest of June but plans to return to the ITV show next month. She was last seen on screen in May

One pal said: “Ruth was hurt when she learned about Eamonn’s friendship with another woman but she is strong and she will be back soon with a smile on her face, putting her best foot forward, as she always does. She needs a bit of time to regroup after everything that’s gone on, which is understandable, but she plans to return to Loose Women, with renewed vigour, in July.”

On the prospect of a reconciliation, the friend insisted: “No chance whatsoever.” Ruth was left reeling by the discovery that Eamonn, 64, has been seeing a woman in her forties after striking up a friendship with her over the past couple of years. He is said to have taken her out to venues including a trip in February to a safari park, plus a Manchester United game and a Beyonce gig.

The GB News presenter, who had a double hip replacement in 2015 and a spinal operation in 2022, is said to have grown particularly close to the woman over the past year. They made contact via social media having been loosely connected, via a mental health charity, for some time. The woman is said to volunteer for a charity which Eamonn became involved with following the death of Ruth’s sister, Julia Johnson, who had suffered with depression.

Ruth and Eamonn announced their split after 14 years of marriage ( 
Image:
WireImage)

She has debut her new look ( 
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@ruthlangsford/Instagram)
Ruth nursed her husband of 14 years through his back surgery and subsequent broken shoulder which he sustained after falling down the stairs at their home in Surrey. “The thing that deeply upsets and frustrates her is the notion that she’s ditching him because of his ongoing health issues,” one pal said. “That is not true. She’s always been there for him. But she has struggled with the knowledge that he’s not always been honest with her.”

Last night a spokesperson for Ruth said: “Ruth had holiday time booked from Loose Women and has extended her leave. She’s looking forward to returning to the show in due course.” Earlier this week Ruth posted pictures of her trip to the hairdresser to have her highlights redone, thanking her stylist, Josh Wood, for her new glam look.

Eamonn returned to the GB News breakfast show, which he co-hosts, just a few days after news of their divorce was made pubic. While he alluded to their break-up, and thanked viewers for the kind messages they’d sent to both him and Ruth, he was then able to focus fully on presenting the news.

A pal said it was harder for Ruth, as a host on panel discussion show Loose Women, because the topics often covered relationship issues and matters of the heart which made it tricky to escape what she was going though herself. The couple, who have a 22-year-old son, Jack, had been an item for a total of 27 years before deciding to split.

A joint statement issued last month said simply: ”Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing.” Eamonn has moved out of their home in Weybridge, Surrey. Ruth has spoken about caring for Eamonn through his surgeries and ongoing ailments. At the end of last year she said: “With any care situation – and there are millions of carers in this country – it isn’t always easy, but if something happens to somebody you love, you help them as much as you can.”