Ruth Langsford has revealed she turned to therapy to survive the emotional fallout of her separation from Eamonn Holmes — a breakup she describes as “dark”, “frightening”, and something that took far longer to unravel than she ever imagined.

The Loose Women star, 65, opened up about how counselling became her anchor when her 27-year relationship collapsed in June 2024, shortly before Eamonn began dating relationship counsellor Katie Alexander, who is 22 years younger.

Ruth explained that therapy has helped her understand the end of their marriage, saying it “gave her tools to cope” and stopped her from feeling trapped in grief. She added that her counsellor “doesn’t judge, just listens” and often challenges her by asking, “Have you thought about this?” or “Why did you feel like that?”

Reflecting on how difficult the breakup had been, she said the end of such a long relationship “takes a lot of unravelling”. Some close to her said she had grown exhausted from caring for Eamonn following his hip operation — something made even more painful when it later emerged that he had formed a connection with Alexander years earlier. There is, however, no suggestion he cheated.

The pair — once beloved hosts of This Morning before being axed in 2021 — still haven’t finalised their divorce and are locked in a financial dispute, including disagreements over the sale of their £2.5 million Weybridge home. Eamonn, meanwhile, has said he feels “ruined” by his battle with HMRC over his employment status during his ITV years.

But Ruth insists she can finally see hope again. “I definitely see light in the future where I didn’t before,” she admitted. “You ask yourself: Do you crumble? Do you lay down and die? Oh no, not I. I will survive.”

She also revealed she is surprisingly open to finding love again: “Never say never. I haven’t been put off relationships — not even marriage. But I’ve realised I’m actually quite good on my own. Independent. Strong. And that feels exciting now, not scary.”

During a festive at-home shoot, she stunned in a figure-hugging red sparkly gown, later switching into a tartan cape and cream fur-collared coat as she embraced this new, more confident chapter of her life.

Ruth, who recently celebrated her 65th birthday with friends on a Caribbean getaway, said she is focusing on herself for the first time in decades. “I’m not delighted my marriage is over,” she admitted previously, “but I’ve accepted it — and now I’m trying to embrace being single and making choices just for me.”

For now, sources say she won’t consider dating anyone until the divorce is finalised. But she is, undeniably, stepping into her future with newfound strength.