Eamonn and Ruth to spend Christmas apart for wholesome reason

The TV duo are making a big sacrifice

Author: Hannah MellinPublished 25th Oct 2021
Last updated 25th Oct 2021

As the festive season approaches, This Morning presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford have revealed that they will be spending Christmas apart so they can spend time with their elderly mums.

Despite coronavirus restrictions being more relaxed than 2020, many families are facing the decision to protect more vulnerable family members this year.

Speaking to Women & Home magazine, the famous telly couple explained that there is "a sea dividing us" as Eamonn plans to head home to Belfast to be with his mum.

Eamonn explained: "We have this issue now, in that we’ve got a sea dividing us.

"We often have a dilemma of whether I go to Belfast, whether Ruth comes with me.

"But Ruth wants to be with her mum. My mother is 93 this year. It’s easier for us often to be apart."

Ruth, whose mum Joan lives in a care home in Surrey, added: "Being apart for Christmas has never been a problem. I wouldn’t be going to Belfast this year because I need to be with my mum. It’s about family for me."

The presenter was unable to visit her mum for months last winter and were reunited earlier this year in emotional scenes.

In May, Ruth took to Instagram to share a video of Ruth dancing in her kitchen preparing a roast dinner.

She captioned the sweet video: 'AND SHE’S BACK!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 Over a year since she’s stepped inside our house and she’s still full of beans, preparing vegetables, enjoying a Sherry and dancing away to @mrantondubeke !! She’s an amazing woman and I’m proud to call her my Mum ❤️.'

Eamonn and Ruth been together for 25 years, and married in 2010.

They have a son together Jack, 19, and Eamonn has three children from his previous marriage, and became a grandfather for the first time this year when son Declan welcomed a daughter.

Check out all the best comfort TV shows to watch in 2021:

Gogglebox (All 4)

Whilst new episodes of Gogglebox are gracing our screens right now, get your fix of the hilarious cast by watching series 7-19 on All 4.

Married At First Sight Australia (All 4)

Although the UK version of Married At First Sight is brilliant, the Australian series takes the drama to the next level! You can watch series 4-9 on All 4 now.

If that's not enough, you can also watch MAFS UK, USA and New Zealand on All 4.

Ru Paul’s Drag Race (BBC iPlayer)

With series 4 airing, you can binge all of series 1, 2 and 3 right now on BBC iPlayer.

The Great British Bake Off (All 4)

Fancy reliving some of the best GBBO episodes? Series 1-5 of is available now on All 4. You can also catch up on weekly episodes of series 6.

The Durrells (ITV Hub)

Series 3 and 4 of ITV's British comedy-drama The Durrells is available to watch now on the ITV Hub.

Call the Midwife (BBC iPlayer)

You can watch series 1-11 of Call the Midwife, as well as some Christmas specials, on BBC iPlayer right now.

The Repair Shop

You can watch series 4-10 of The Repair Shop on BBC iPlayer, with experts Jay Blades, Suzie Fletcher, Steve Fletcher, Will Kirk, Kirsten Ramsay and Dominic Chinea.

The Simpsons (All 4)

A classic that never fails to cheer anybody up! The Simpsons is available on All 4.

Sherlock (BBC iPlayer)

If you missed it the first time around, series 1-4 of crime drama Sherlock, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, are available now on the BBC iPlayer.

First Dates (All 4)

Fancy some love in your life? Join some singletons at Fred Sirieix's First Dates restaurant, with series 1-19 available on All 4.

First Dates Hotel and Teen First Dates are also available to watch.

Our Yorkshire Farm

Follow the lives of Amanda and Clive Owen and their nine children as they work and live on their sheep farm in Swaledale. Series 1-5 are available on MY5.

The Vicar of Dibley (BBC iPlayer)

Series 1-3, as well as the 2004 and 2006 Christmas specials are available to watch on the BBC iPlayer. The special 'lockdown' episode, which aired in December 2020, is also available for fans to catch up.

Taskmaster (All 4)

Series 1-13 of BAFTA-award winning game show Taskmaster, hosted by Greg Davies, are also available on All 4 right now.

MasterChef

Let your mouth water as Gregg Wallace and John Torode try and find the next MasterChef. As well as a number of celebrity series, you can watch series 15-18 of MasterChef on the BBC iPlayer.

You can also watch episodes of Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef Australia.

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