Ruth Langsford has shared a sweet message to her close friend and ITV co-star Coleen Nolan after returning to Loose Women following her split from Eamonn Holmes

Ruth Langsford has praised Coleen Nolan in a sweet tribute.

The Loose Women host recently returned to the ITV show after taking some time away following the end of her marriage to Eamonn Holmes. Coleen has been stepping in for Ruth on occasion and has been by her side as she moves forward.

Coleen shared an image of Ruth jokingly strangling Coleen while in the Loose Women studio. The presenter captioned the post: “Backstage banter.” Ruth then reposted the Instagram Story from Coleen with the caption: “Love this woman!”

Ruth returned to Loose Women on Monday for the first time since she and Eamonn confirmed their split. Eamonn returned to GB News almost immediately while Ruth decided to take some time away from TV.

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The 64-year-old was joined by fellow panellists Coleen Nolan, Janet Street-Porter and Brenda Edwards. Before Ruth could begin the show, Coleen interrupted: “Wait, wait, wait, before you carry on, can I just say I am so so happy you’re back.”

Cheers erupted from the live audience as Ruth sighed “aw” and smiled. Ruth thanked her co-stars before Janet cut in: “Thank God, Thank God, I was left with her,” as Brenda laughed and clapped. “I’m sorry Janet, I won’t do it again,” Ruth replied before adding, “I thought you was going to talk about long lost dogs for a second!” Coleen quipped: “I wanted to be nice to start with!”

Ruth has been a regular panellist on Loose Women since 1999 and took on the role of presenter in 2013. She and Eamonn met in 1977 and dated for over a decade before getting engaged after being introduced by friends. The couple tied the knot in 2010.

Ruth and Coleen are close ( 
Image:
@ruthlangsford/Instagram)

Ruth and Eamonn announced their split in May ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Eamonn and Ruth share one son together, Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has three children from a previous marriage, Declan, 35, Rebecca, 32, and Niall, 30. Loose Women viewers hit out at Ruth on Tuesday accusing her of “snubbing” Eamonn while discussing grandchildren.

Speaking about gifts she’s received from loved ones, she said: “I think any gift from a friend is a special gift, anything that a friend gives you. When someone says friendship bracelet I don’t think of a beautiful silver bracelet, I think of a bit of cotton that a kid has made for you.

“I don’t have grandchildren, I hope I will one day, but I can imagine that. If a grandchild or something has made me something I would feel the need to wear it.” ITV viewers pointed out that Ruth has step-grandchildren with Eamonn. One tweeted: “In the 14 years Eamon and Ruth were together, Her stepson Declan had two children. She would have known them… Her step-grandchildren. Now, she says she has no grandchildren. Ouch.”

“Ruth saying she doesn’t have grandchildren when she has step-grandkids on Eamonn’s side, I thought that was a bit mean,” another added. Eamonn’s oldest son Declan and his wife Jenny welcomed their first child Emilia in 2021 and welcomed their second daughter Isabella last year.