Eamonn Holmes (; born 3 December 1959)[ is a Northern Irish]
Holmes was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting in the 2018 New Year Honours. He is an advocate for numerous charities and causes, including Dogs Trust, Variety GB and Northern Ireland Kidney Patients' Association.
Early life and education
Holmes was educated at Holy Family Primary School[ Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Eamonn Holmes, television presenter The Independent, 28 June 2007] and attended St Malachy's College, Belfast,
Career
Early career
Holmes' first job in broadcasting, was in 1979, when he joined Ulster Television (UTV), as a host and reporter for the station's Farming Ulster programme.
In 1982, Holmes was moved into news and current affairs reporting when he was tasked to anchor Ulster Television's flagship Good Evening Ulster programme.
In addition to his news and current affairs role, Holmes has also hosted other Ulster Television productions, including Miss Northern Ireland gala specials in 1985 and 1986. With Ulster Television, he won a Hometown Radio Award. He departed in 1986 to join the BBC.[
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Television presenting
Holmes has presented coverage of snooker, horse racing, darts and tennis[ Sport in My World: Eamonn Holmes The Daily Telegraph, 28 April 2006][ Eamonn Holmes Feelgood Factor, ITV, 2009.] He was also the presenter of ITV's coverage of the Phil Taylor vs. Raymond van Barneveld showdown at the Wembley Conference Centre in 1999.[ Filmography HOLMES, Eamonn BFI – Film & TV Database][ SIMPLY THE BEST PHIL TAYLOR V RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD BFI – Film & TV Database]
In 1993, Holmes started working at GMTV,[ hosting the first show on 1 January 1993 with Anne Davies. In 1997, He had a falling-out with his subsequent co-host Anthea Turner; however, they were reunited on a BBC NI show entitled The Friday Show in 2009.]
From 2001 to 2007, he presented the BBC National Lottery game show Jet Set.[
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In April 2005, he left GMTV, stating the show had run out of real news and became celebrity obsessed shortly before his departure.
After leaving GMTV in April 2005, Holmes joined Sky News six months later to present the new-look Sunrise programme.
Holmes presented SUDO-Q, a BBC quiz show between December 2005 and March 2007. In 2006, Holmes began presenting ITV daytime programme This Morning on Friday mornings until 2021.
In 2006, Holmes hosted US game show The Rich List. In 2009, Holmes co-presented the ITV series The Feelgood Factor with Myleene Klass.
In 2014, Holmes and Ruth Langsford co-hosted a 10-part ITV daytime game show,
In 2016, Holmes presented Channel 5 panel show It's Not Me, It's You.
Holmes was one of 3 relief presenters on Good Morning Britain between 2017 and 2018.
From March 2018, Holmes co-presented Do the Right Thing with Ruth Langsford on Channel 5.
In December 2021 it was announced that Holmes was joining GB News, where he began presenting its new breakfast show alongside Isabel Webster from 4 January 2022.
in February 2020, Holmes lost a First Tier Tribunal (FTT) appeal regarding his status as a freelancer under IR35 rules, with the judge determining his contract with ITV's This Morning programme amounted to employment. Giving evidence in the proceedings, Holmes described himself as "..one of the best live television presenters in the country."[RWG Limited v. Commissioners HMRC TC/2017/03624]
Other television work
In 2001, Holmes appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.
Holmes has made four appearances on the long-running game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.
Holmes has also made regular appearances on Big Brother's Bit on the Side
On 19 September 2021, Eamonn Holmes was interviewed by Joe Duffy on The Meaning of Life on RTÉ One (part of RTÉ Television) in Ireland.
Radio
Holmes' foray into radio broadcasting was at Downtown Radio, Northern Ireland's first commercial independent radio station, in the late 1980s.
From around 2003, Holmes presented The Eamonn Holmes Show on Radio 5 Live on Saturday mornings between 9 and 11 am for 6 years, last airing on 30 May 2009 as Holmes' contract with the BBC was not renewed.[
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For a few weeks in 2008, Holmes took over Michael Parkinson's Sunday morning show on Radio 2.[ Eamonn Holmes – This is his Surrey life Surrey Life, March 2008]
In 2016, Holmes presented his own radio show on Talkradio. The show was called Let's Talk With Eamonn Holmes and was broadcast on Saturdays from 6am to 8am and Sundays from 11am to 1pm.
From January 2018 till February 2020, Holmes presented the weekday drivetime show on Talkradio.
Other work
Holmes writes a column for Sunday People newspaper.[ Eamonn – Man of the people The People] His autobiography was released in May 2006.[ This Is My Life: Eamonn Holmes: The Autogiography Amazon.com] The autobiography is called This is MY Life, a reference to another famous Irish Eamonn – Eamonn Andrews, after whom he was named.[ Eamonn Holmes: My Life In Media The Independent, 10 July 2006] The book reveals some of what occurred behind the scenes during his tenure at GMTV.[
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Controversies
In November 2009, Jon Culshaw appeared as Holmes on The Impressions Show in a series of three comedy sketches in which he was portrayed as having an appetite so uncontrollable that he eats a sofa, flowers and even a guest (Frankie Dettori), using the catchphrase 'I was fierce hungry, so I was'. Although Holmes had interviewed Culshaw and his co-star Debra Stephenson on This Morning to promote the show,[ Eamonn Holmes Eat Your Heart Out The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson, BBC Comedy, 27 November 2009] after the programme aired the presenter instructed his lawyers to send a letter of complaint to the BBC.[ Eamonn Holmes threatens BBC with legal action after comedy show mocks his weight The Daily Telegraph, 19 July 2010] The letter resulted in an apology from the BBC along with a withdrawal of any future comedy sketches featuring Holmes.[ BBC apologises to Eamonn Holmes over weight jibes BBC News, 19 July 2010] Both the complaint itself and the outcome of Holmes's legal action drew generally unfavourable criticism from media observers and online commentators.[Julie Burchill If Eamonn Holmes can't see the funny side of fatness, he should lay off the pies The Belfast Telegraph, 21 July 2010][ Eamonn Holmes gets the BBC jokes eating away at him banned The Guardian, 22 July 2010][Andrew M Brown If Eamonn Holmes doesn't like the BBC teasing him about being fat, there's a simple solution The Daily Telegraph, 19 July 2010]
While presenting This Morning in October 2011, Holmes described singer Jonathan Wilkes as "retarded" on air. He later apologised after complaints and calls for him to be sacked. Holmes said: "I have to say sorry to three or four of you who are upset because I used the word retarded. You seem to have taken it personally or think I am being insulting. I would never want to do that. There is this man who has an autistic child and said I insulted his child. I would never use it in that context. Sorry if that caused you offence".[O'Connor, Niall. Eamonn says sorry for calling guest 'retard'. herald.i.e. 8 October 2011.][Small, Louise. Eamonn Holmes sorry for 'retarded' comment. The Belfast Telegraph. 8 October 2011.]
In October 2011, Holmes provoked criticism by suggesting that a rape victim should take taxis in the future, leading to accusations of victim blaming. A spokeswoman for ITV said: "Eamonn was in no way suggesting that the victim was in any way to blame for this horrific attack. His interview was carried out with the utmost care and compassion and his comments were intended to highlight safety advice."
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Holmes caused controversy by refusing to discount conspiracy theories linking 5G telecommunications masts to COVID-19. He stated: "It's very easy to say it is not true because it suits the state narrative."
Personal life
In 1985, Holmes married his first wife, Gabrielle Holmes, with whom he has three children, Declan, Rebecca and Niall. They separated in 1994, due to Holmes' father's death and Holmes' journalism career taking a toll on their marriage.[
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On 26 June 2010, Holmes married Ruth Langsford at Elvetham Hall, near Hartley Wintney, Hampshire.[ Holmes and partner Ruth walk down aisle The Belfast Telegraph, 26 June 2010] Together, they have one son, Jack. The couple sold exclusive rights to report on the wedding ceremony and the reception to Hello! magazine in a deal that saw the publication feature the event over two issues, in July 2010.[ Only in Hello! Eamonn and Ruth marry surrounded by showbiz friends Hello!, 28 June 2010]
In 2006, Holmes was awarded an honorary degree by Queen's University Belfast for services to broadcasting.[ Ulster-born TV presenter Eamonn Holmes was today presented with an honorary degree from Queen's University The Belfast Telegraph, 3 July 2006] He has also received an honorary degree from the University of Staffordshire.[ Honorary Doctors 1986 – 2005 University of Staffordshire]
Holmes is a supporter of Manchester United.[ "He has a passion for John Wayne movies" The Belfast Telegraph, 26 April 1996] In December 2005, he opened the eulogies at the funeral of Northern Irish footballer George Best.[ Final farewell to football legend BBC News, 3 December 2005]
Holmes and Langsford are patrons of Dogs Trust.
In April 2015, Holmes became a celebrity ambassador for the children's charity, Variety GB.
In October 2022, whilst at home, Holmes suffered a fall. This resulted in a broken bone which, as he described, was "sticking out of his shoulder". He was told to take four months off from his work as a presenter at the breakfast show on GB News.
In May 2024, Holmes and Langsford announced their plans to divorce after 14 years of marriage.
Filmography
- Television
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| 1986–1989 | Open Air | Presenter | BBC One | Series 1–3 |
| 1993–2005 | GMTV | Co-presenter | ITV | |
| 2001–2007 | Jet Set | Presenter | BBC One | 8 series |
| 2003 | TV Scrabble | Presenter | Challenge TV | |
| 2004 | Would You Pass The 11+ | Co-presenter | BBC Northern Ireland | 1 episode; with Christine Bleakley |
| 2005 | Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon | Contestant | ITV | Series 1 |
| The Sunday Night Project | Guest presenter | Channel 4 | 1 episode |
| 2005–2007 | SUDO-Q | Presenter | BBC One/BBC Two | 4 series |
| 2005–2016 | Sunrise | Main anchor | Sky News | Breakfast news programme |
| 2006 | The Rich List | Presenter | Fox | American game show |
| 2006–2021 | This Morning | Co-presenter | ITV | School holidays; with Ruth Langsford |
| 2009 | The Feelgood Factor | Co-presenter | 1 series; with Myleene Klass |
| 2009–2014 | Songs of Praise | Presenter | BBC One | 8 episodes |
| 2010 | Have I Got News for You | Guest presenter | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Blue Peter – You Decide | Judge | CBBC | 5 episodes |
| 2014 | Gift Wrapped | Co-presenter | ITV | 1 series; with Ruth Langsford |
| 2014–2018 | Big Brother's Bit on the Side | Regular panellist | Channel 5 | 24 episodes |
| 2015–2019 | | Co-presenter | 3 series; with Ruth Langsford |
| 2016 | It's Not Me, It's You | Presenter | 1 series |
| 2017 | Eamonn & Ruth's 7 Year Itch | Co-presenter | Two-part documentary; with Ruth Langsford |
| 2017–2018 | Good Morning Britain | Guest presenter | ITV | 14 episodes |
| 2017– | Biggleton | Narrator | CBeebies | |
| 2018 | | Guest | ITV2 | 1 episode; with Ruth Langsford |
| 2018–2023 | Do The Right Thing with Eamonn and Ruth | Co-presenter | Channel 5 | 1 series; with Ruth Langsford |
| How To Get A Good Night's Sleep | Co-presenter | 1 series; with Ruth Langsford |
| 2019 | Supermarket Sweep | Contestant | ITV2 | 1 episode; with Ruth Langsford |
| 2019–2023 | Celebrity Gogglebox | TV Watcher | Channel 4 | with Ruth Langsford |
| 2022– | Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel | Presenter | GB News | with Isabel Webster |
| Farm to Feast: Best Menu Wins | Presenter | BBC One | Six-part series |
- Film
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| 2005 | Robots | Bigmouth Executive & Forge (Re-dubbed voice) | |
| 2014 | Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie | RTÉ newsreader | Cameo role |
| Lee | |
| 2019 | Wonder Park | Uncle Tony (Re-dubbed voice) | |
- Radio
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| 2003–2009 | The Eamonn Holmes Show | Presenter | Sports show on BBC Radio 5 Live |
| 2005–?? | Sunday Afternoons | Presenter | Sundays, 47pm on Magic FM |
| 2008 | The Michael Parkinson Show | Guest presenter | BBC Radio 2 show |
| 2016 | Let's Talk with Eamonn Holmes | Presenter | Sundays, 11am1pm on Talkradio |
| 2018–2020 | Drivetime with Eamonn Holmes | Presenter | Weekdays, 47pm on Talkradio |
Awards and honours
Holmes was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting in the 2018 New Year Honours.
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| 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 | TRIC Awards | Satellite/Digital TV Personality | |
| 2013 | News Presenter/Reporter | |
| Legends of Industry Award | Services to Broadcasting and Journalism | |
| 2016 | TRIC Awards | News Presenter/Reporter | |
| 2018 | TRIC Awards | News Presenter | |
External links
