Eamonn Holmes
Eamonn Holmes OBE (/ˈeɪmən/; born 3 December 1959)[2] is a Northern Irish[3] broadcaster and journalist. He co-presented the breakfast television show GMTV (1993–2005) for ITV, before presenting Sunrise (2005–2016) for Sky News. Holmes co-presented ITV's This Morning (2006–2021) with his wife Ruth Holmes on Fridays, during the school holidays only. In January 2022, he joined GB News to present its breakfast programme alongside Isabel Webster. He has also presented How the Other Half Lives (2015–2019) and It's Not Me, It's You (2016) for Channel 5.
Eamonn Holmes | |
|---|---|
Holmes in 2013 | |
| Born | 3 December 1959 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Employer(s) | ITV (former) Channel 5 GB News |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 4 |
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 of 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[4] and St Malachy's College,[2] Belfast.[4]
Career
Early career
Before entering broadcasting, Holmes worked for a Dublin-based business magazine. In 1979, he joined Ulster Television, the ITV franchise contractor for Northern Ireland working as a host and reporter for the station's Farming Ulster programme. Afterwards, he teamed up with Ulster Television's sports reporters, Leslie Dawes (1922–2014) and Jackie Fullerton, to assist in covering sporting events in the province.
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. Holmes succeeded Gloria Hunniford who had presented the show since its launch in 1979. Holmes was the third choice to present the programme after trial runs by news reporters Gary Gillespie and Gerry Kelly.
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. At the corporation's Manchester studios, Holmes worked as a presenter on the daytime Open Air programme which was broadcast nationally on BBC1.
Television presenting
Holmes has presented coverage of snooker, horse racing, darts and tennis[5] on television.[6][7] 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.[8][9]
In 1993, Holmes started working at GMTV, hosting the first show on 1 January 1993 with Anne Davies. 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.
Holmes presented the BBC National Lottery game show Jet Set between 2001 and 2007.
In April 2005, he left GMTV, stating the show had run out of real news and became celebrity obsessed shortly before his departure.[10]
After leaving GMTV in April 2005, Holmes joined Sky News six months later to present the new-look Sunrise programme. He initially hosted the show with Lorna Dunkley between October 2005 and January 2007, then with Charlotte Hawkins from 2007 to 2014. Hawkins joined ITV in March 2014 and was replaced by Isabel Webster. In September 2016, Holmes announced his departure from the programme after eleven years.
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 December 2021, Holmes ended his contractual obligations with This Morning, meaning that the husband and wife duo no longer presented the show during school or bank holidays.
In 2006, Holmes hosted US game show The Rich List. In 2009, Holmes co-presented the ITV series The Feelgood Factor with Myleene Klass. He presented eight episodes of Songs of Praise from 2009 until 2014. In 2010, Holmes guest presented an episode of Have I Got News for You.
In 2014, Holmes and Ruth Langsford co-hosted a 10-part ITV daytime game show, Gift Wrapped.[11][12] In 2015, Holmes and Langsford presented a six-part factual series for Channel 5 entitled Eamonn & Ruth: How the Other Half Lives. The programme returned for a second series in September 2016 and a third in June 2017.[13]
In 2016, Holmes presented Channel 5 panel show It's Not Me, It's You. Vicky Pattison and Kelly Brook were team captains on the show.[14][15]
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. It was later announced that he would present its new breakfast show with 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."[16][17]
Other television work
In 2001, Holmes appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.[18][19] In 2013, Holmes was a judge on the CBBC Blue Peter talent search for a new presenter, Blue Peter – You Decide.
Holmes has made four appearances on the long-running game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. The first time, he played with Alex Ferguson on 25 December 2004. On 25 August and 1 September 2007, he played with Kay Burley. On 20 May 2012, he returned with Ruth Langsford by his side. Finally, on 19 December 2013, to celebrate the end of Millionaire on ITV, Holmes re-appeared on the show with Alex Ferguson. Holmes has also appeared on celebrity editions of game shows including Fifteen to One, Call My Bluff, All Star Mr & Mrs, Tipping Point: Lucky Stars, Catchphrase and The Chase.
Holmes has also made regular appearances on Big Brother's Bit on the Side[20] and in 2015, he was heavily tipped as a housemate for Celebrity Big Brother 16.[21] He has been a panellist on numerous episodes of Through the Keyhole and appeared in ITV's Guess the Star in 2017. Since November 2017, he has provided the voiceover for Biggleton on CBeebies.
On 19 September 2021, Eamonn Holmes was featured on "The Meaning of Life" on RTE Television, Ireland.[17]
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.[22] In 2005, Holmes hosted his own programme on London radio station Magic 105.4.[23]
For a few weeks in 2008, Holmes took over Michael Parkinson's Sunday morning show on Radio 2.[23]
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 6 am to 8 am and Sundays from 11 am to 1 pm.[24][25]
From January 2018 till February 2020, Holmes presented the weekday drivetime show on talkRADIO.[26]
Other work
Holmes writes a column for The People newspaper.[27] His autobiography was released in May 2006.[28] The autobiography is called This is MY Life, a reference to another famous Irish Eamonn – Eamonn Andrews, after whom he was named.[23][29] The book reveals some of what occurred behind the scenes during his tenure at GMTV.[29]
Controversies
This article's Criticism or Controversy section may compromise the article's neutrality by separating out potentially negative information. (May 2021) |
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,[30] after the programme aired the presenter instructed his lawyers to send a letter of complaint to the BBC.[31] The letter resulted in an apology from the BBC along with a withdrawal of any future comedy sketches featuring Holmes.[32] Both the complaint itself and the outcome of Holmes's legal action drew generally unfavourable criticism from media observers and online commentators.[33][34][35]
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".[36][37]
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."[38]
In January 2020, Holmes was criticised[by whom?] after making remarks about Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. In a subsequent interview on talkRADIO, Holmes called her "awful, woke, weak, manipulative, spoilt and irritating" and said he did not think he would like her, despite saying he had never met her in person.[39]
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 journalism career taking a toll on their marriage.[40]
On 26 June 2010, Holmes married Ruth Langsford at Elvetham Hall, near Hartley Wintney, Hampshire.[40] 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.[41]
In 2006, Holmes was awarded an honorary degree by Queen's University Belfast.[2][42] He has also received an honorary degree from the University of Staffordshire.[43]
Holmes is a supporter of Manchester United.[44] In December 2005, he opened the eulogies at the funeral of Northern Irish footballer George Best.[45]
Holmes and Langsford are patrons of Dogs Trust.[46] and the couple adopted their dog, Maggie from the charity in 2011.[47] In 2014, the couple supported the Dementia Friends campaign, which is an Alzheimer's Society initiative.[48]
In April 2015, Holmes became a celebrity ambassador for the children's charity, Variety GB.[49][50] In January 2016, he became a patron of Northern Ireland Kidney Patients' Association.[51] In March 2020, he and Langsford became patrons of The Amy May Trust.
In 2018 the Twitter accounts of both Holmes and Louis Theroux were targeted by Insinia Security[who?] to highlight a longstanding security flaw in Twitter's system.[52]
On 26 October 2021, Holmes said that he had tested positive for COVID-19; he was fully vaccinated which prevented him from getting really sick.[53]
In October 2022, whilst at home, Eamonn 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.[54] He returned to work at GB News in February 2023.
Filmography
- Television
| Year | Show | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2005–2007 | SUDO-Q | Presenter | BBC One/BBC Two | 4 series |
| 2005 | Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon | Contestant | ITV | Series 1 |
| The Sunday Night Project | Guest presenter | Channel 4 | 1 episode | |
| 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– | Eamonn & Ruth: How the Other Half Lives | Co-presenter | 3 series; with Ruth Langsford | |
| 2016 | It's Not Me, It's You[55] | Presenter | 1 series | |
| 2017–2018 | Good Morning Britain | Guest presenter | ITV | 14 episodes |
| 2017– | Biggleton[56] | Narrator | CBeebies | |
| 2017 | Eamonn & Ruth's 7 Year Itch | Co-presenter | Channel 5 | Two-part documentary; with Ruth Langsford |
| 2018– | Do The Right Thing with Eamonn and Ruth | Co-presenter | 1 series; with Ruth Langsford | |
| 2018 | Love Island: The Reunion | Guest | ITV2 | 1 episode; with Ruth Langsford |
| 2018– | How To Get A Good Night's Sleep | Co-presenter | Channel 5 | 1 series; with Ruth Langsford |
| 2019– | Celebrity Gogglebox | TV Watcher | Channel 4 | with Ruth Langsford |
| 2019 | Supermarket Sweep | Contestant | ITV2 | 1 episode; 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[57] |
- Film
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2009 | The Eamonn Holmes Show | Presenter | Sports show on BBC Radio 5 Live |
| 2005–?? | Sunday Afternoons[58] | Presenter | Sundays, 4 – 7 pm on Magic FM |
| 2008 | The Michael Parkinson Show | Guest presenter | BBC Radio 2 show |
| 2016 | Let's Talk with Eamonn Holmes | Presenter | Sundays, 11 am – 1 pm on Talkradio |
| 2018–2020 | Drivetime with Eamonn Holmes | Presenter | Weekdays, 4 – 7 pm 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.[59] He collected his OBE from Queen Elizabeth II on 1 June 2018.
| Year | Group | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 | TRIC Awards | Satellite/Digital TV Personality | Won |
| 2013 | News Presenter/Reporter | Won | |
| Legends of Industry Award | Services to Broadcasting and Journalism | Won | |
| 2016 | TRIC Awards | News Presenter/Reporter | Nominated |
| 2018 | TRIC Awards | News Presenter | Won |
References
- ^ "Eamonn Holmes says wife Ruth 'trying to fatten me up so nobody else wants me'". The Irish News. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ a b c Holmes receives honorary degree 31 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine BBC News, 4 July 2006
- ^ "NI Connections interview with Eamonn Holmes". Youtube. NI Connections. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Eamonn Holmes, television presenter The Independent, 28 June 2007
- ^ "Tennis, BBC Genome". bbc.co.uk. 13 June 1992.
- ^ Sport in My World: Eamonn Holmes 8 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine The Daily Telegraph, 28 April 2006
- ^ Eamonn Holmes 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Feelgood Factor, ITV, 2009.
- ^ Filmography HOLMES, Eamonn 22 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine BFI – Film & TV Database
- ^ SIMPLY THE BEST PHIL TAYLOR V RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 22 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine BFI – Film & TV Database
- ^ Holmes bids farewell to GMTV sofa 1 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine BBC News, 27 April 2005
- ^ "Gift Wrapped Episode 1". Itv.com. from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Eamonn, Ruth to host ITV quiz show". Digital Spy. 10 July 2014. from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Eamonn Holmes to host "cheeky" panel show about dating". Digital Spy. 4 May 2016. from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Pre-registration for IT'S NOT ME, IT'S YOU with KELLY BROOK, VICKY PATTISON & EAMONN HOLMES from SRO Audiences". sroaudiences.com. from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ RWG Limited v. Commissioners HMRC TC/2017/03624
- ^ a b "THE MEANING OF LIFE | RTÉ Presspack". presspack.rte.ie. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 18 February 2001. ITV. Repeated 25 August 2016 on Challenge TV.
- ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 3 June 2001. ITV.
- ^ "Day 24: Eamonn Holmes tries to break in – Celebrity Big Brother". Channel 5. from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Celebrity Big Brother summer 2015 – who's going into the house?". Radio Times. from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ Plunkett, John (8 May 2009). "Danny Baker and Christian O'Connell to front new shows on BBC Radio 5 Live". The Guardian. from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
- ^ a b c Eamonn Holmes – This is his Surrey life 13 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine Surrey Life, March 2008
- ^ "Eamonn Holmes to present new show on talkRADIO". Digital Spy. 8 March 2016. from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ "talkRADIO Schedule". Talkradio.co.uk. from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Eamonn Holmes joins all-new talkRADIO". talkradio.co.uk.
- ^ Eamonn – Man of the people 10 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine The People
- ^ This Is My Life: Eamonn Holmes: The Autogiography 9 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Amazon.com
- ^ a b Eamonn Holmes: My Life In Media 25 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine The Independent, 10 July 2006
- ^ Eamonn Holmes Eat Your Heart Out 25 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson, BBC Comedy, 27 November 2009
- ^ Eamonn Holmes threatens BBC with legal action after comedy show mocks his weight 22 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine The Daily Telegraph, 19 July 2010
- ^ BBC apologises to Eamonn Holmes over weight jibes 22 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine BBC News, 19 July 2010
- ^ 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 5 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine 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 24 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine The Daily Telegraph, 19 July 2010
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Eamonn Holmes cricised for controversial rape comment". The Telegraph. 27 October 2011. from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
- ^ Weatherby, Bronwen (10 January 2020). "Eamonn Holmes calls Meghan Markle 'spoilt, weak, woke and manipulative' in scathing rant". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ a b Holmes and partner Ruth walk down aisle The Belfast Telegraph, 26 June 2010
- ^ Only in Hello! Eamonn and Ruth marry surrounded by showbiz friends 19 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Hello!, 28 June 2010
- ^ Ulster-born TV presenter Eamonn Holmes was today presented with an honorary degree from Queen's University The Belfast Telegraph, 3 July 2006
- ^ Honorary Doctors 1986 – 2005 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine University of Staffordshire
- ^ "He has a passion for John Wayne movies" The Belfast Telegraph, 26 April 1996
- ^ Final farewell to football legend 17 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine BBC News, 3 December 2005
- ^ Holmes, Eamonn. "Charity – Eamonn Holmes". Eamonn Holmes. from the original on 26 May 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
- ^ . Alzheimer's Society. 21 February 2015. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Eamonn Holmes Inducted as Celebrity Ambassador for Variety". Variety.org.uk. 30 April 2015. from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ Beattie, Jilly (23 January 2016). "Eamonn Holmes made patron of Northern Ireland kidney charity". Belfastlive.co.uk. from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Company that hijacked Eamonn Holmes and Louis Theroux Twitter accounts denies breaking law". Sky News. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ Preston, Allan (26 October 2021). "Eamonn Holmes announces he has Covid". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ "Eamonn Holmes Reveals Horror Fall At Home Left Him With 'A Bone Sticking Out Of Shoulder'". Huffington Post. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ Guide, British Comedy (29 April 2016). "Eamonn Holmes to host Channel 5 panel show". British Comedy Guide. from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ Duff, Seamus (2 October 2017). "Eamonn Holmes bags surprising new job – after fluffing the audition". Daily Mirror. from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Farm to Feast: Best Menu Wins". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Magic FM signs Eamonn Holmes to present Sunday show". Campaignlive.co.uk. from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Ringo Starr and Barry Gibb knighted in New Year Honours". ITV News.
External links
- Eamonn Holmes at IMDb
- Official website