Eamonn Holmes, 64, shares gratitude after a ‘tough year’ of health woes as he attends first event with girlfriend Katie Alexander, 43, following split from wife Ruth Langsford

Eamonn Holmes, 64, shares gratitude after a 'tough year' of health woes as he attends first event with girlfriend Katie Alexander, 43, following split from wife Ruth Langsford

I’ve been deeply moved by the extraordinary journey of this remarkable man, Eamonn. His resilience and fortitude in the face of adversity are truly inspiring. From his battles with shingles, slipped discs, and spinal surgeries to his recent struggles with mobility issues, it’s clear that life hasn’t always been kind to him.


Eamonn Holmes expressed his thanks and spoke candidly about his challenging past year, as he made his first public appearance with his new partner this week.

64-year-old celebrity television personality has been romantically involved with counselor Katie Alexander, who is 43 years old, since his breakup with Ruth Langsford. She was present with him when he hosted the Irish Post Awards in London on Thursday.

This year, Eamonn has faced numerous health challenges, and most recently, he shared that he is now unable to walk or care for himself.

Following a slipped disc operation on his back in 2022, the GB News host has found it difficult to walk without assistance and frequently uses a wheelchair for mobility.

At the event, Eamonn openly expressed his relief that 2024 was coming to an end, with his girlfriend standing by his side.

Eamonn Holmes, 64, shares gratitude after a 'tough year' of health woes as he attends first event with girlfriend Katie Alexander, 43, following split from wife Ruth Langsford

Eamonn Holmes, 64, shares gratitude after a 'tough year' of health woes as he attends first event with girlfriend Katie Alexander, 43, following split from wife Ruth Langsford

In conversation with The Sun on Sunday, he expressed, “This year has been challenging, and I’m eagerly looking forward to moving past it.

‘But there are lots of things to be grateful for and I hope that my health improves next year.’

At The Irish Post Awards, Eammon and Katie debuted as a pair for the first time, yet Eammon, the previous Good Morning Britain host, asked photographers to abstain from snapping photos of the two of them together.

A bystander commented, “Katie appears to bring out Eamonn’s smile again. They seem deeply affectionate towards one another.

In June, it was revealed that Eamonn and his longtime partner, Ruth from Loose Women, have decided to end their 14-year marriage and part ways after being together for 27 years.

Currently, Katie, who recently had a romantic voyage with the television personality earlier this year, has shared with her friends that she’s committed to a long-term relationship with Eamonn.

She’s aiding Eamonn during his separation from Ruth, yet her friends note that she goes to great lengths to emphasize that their friendship blossomed only after the divorce, which became final in May.

In September, the previous host of This Morning shared that he is now unable to care for himself in an emotional disclosure.

Eamonn Holmes, 64, shares gratitude after a 'tough year' of health woes as he attends first event with girlfriend Katie Alexander, 43, following split from wife Ruth Langsford
Eamonn Holmes, 64, shares gratitude after a 'tough year' of health woes as he attends first event with girlfriend Katie Alexander, 43, following split from wife Ruth Langsford

In a heartfelt video, Eamonn confessed that his independent past is now behind him, as he earnestly asked his audience to consider adopting a dog, while lovingly stroking his dog Bella.

Eamonn, who previously co-owned a rescue dog, Maggie, with his former spouse Ruth, additionally disclosed that his inability to walk affected him as well.

Title for the video: “Consider Providing a Home for Bella. Due to my current circumstances, I can’t care for her myself, but you could! Reach out to @TheK9Angels. What a sweet pooch!

Eamonn uses a wheelchair due to chronic back pain as well as undergoing painful physio sessions.

In January, he expressed a potential truth that he might not regain the ability to walk without assistance in the future.

In the year 2016, Eamonn endured a three-and-a-quarter hour long double hip replacement surgery, having dealt with intense discomfort for quite some time prior to that.

Regarding his operation, Eamonn expressed: “Was I feeling anxious? Absolutely not! It felt similar to being on live television. Beforehand, I was tense – could I pull it off? Would I manage it well?

In a recount two years after the event, Eamonn shared his struggle against shingles and disclosed that he contracted the virus on his son Declan’s wedding day.

In a chat on Loose Women last September, he discussed his struggle with health issues that forced him to take a break from working on This Morning around three years prior.

He also shared images of his puffy face covered in marks and scabs during his battle.

Shingles is a viral outbreak on the skin that occurs when the varicella zoster virus, responsible for chickenpox, becomes active again within an individual’s nervous system. Since approximately 90% of UK adults have had chickenpox, it means this virus remains dormant in their nerve tissues.

Eamonn Holmes, 64, shares gratitude after a 'tough year' of health woes as he attends first event with girlfriend Katie Alexander, 43, following split from wife Ruth Langsford
Eamonn Holmes, 64, shares gratitude after a 'tough year' of health woes as he attends first event with girlfriend Katie Alexander, 43, following split from wife Ruth Langsford

His years of chronic back pain started in spring 2021 – which came completely out of nowhere.

Eamonn’s pain grew so intense that he needed a cane to walk, yet he eventually discovered what was causing his discomfort.

He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg.

In September 2022, due to the necessity of a crucial back operation to alleviate his persistent back discomfort, Eamonn had to temporarily leave his GB news program.

After his operation, he disclosed that even with physical therapy, he still struggles with limited movement, preventing him from performing basic tasks. This dependence on others leaves him feeling utterly dejected, a sensation he likened to being soul-crushing.

As a lifestyle expert, I can share my personal experience: Following a spinal surgery that affected my left leg’s strength, I unfortunately had an accident just over two weeks into my recovery. Specifically, I tumbled down 18 stairs at my Surrey home and landed harshly on the stone floor below.

The severe accident nearly claimed his life, but miraculously, he survived with a fractured shoulder and his legs becoming even more feeble.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I can share that I faced a significant obstacle when I suffered a shoulder fracture from an unfortunate fall. It was undeniably a major hurdle in my journey.

Eamonn Holmes, 64, shares gratitude after a 'tough year' of health woes as he attends first event with girlfriend Katie Alexander, 43, following split from wife Ruth Langsford

One year post his spinal operation, Eamonn opted for a spinal and neck elongation treatment in September 2023, as he confessed that he was unable to walk.

Eamonn confessed that he was still struggling after his back surgery, stating that he couldn’t engage in any physical activity beyond watching television and eating.

He explained: ‘I just got problems last year in my back, which I haven’t recovered from. It’s not good, it’s not a good recipe I have to say.’

Before their separation, Ruth expressed concern that Eamonn might not fully recover.

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2024-11-10 03:19

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