Eamonn Holmes’s dislike of Phillip Schofield became so severe that he has no regrets that his outbursts caused problems at the end of his marriage to his wife Ruth Langsford.
A source close to Eamonn, 64, has revealed that he is standing by his open rants about Phillip, which we can reveal left his wife Ruth distraught towards the end of their marriage.
Ruth is still a regular star on ITV favorite Loose Women and a source said she felt uncomfortable that her spouse was speaking out about the channel and how he felt betrayed by them.
She and Eamonn announced their separation in May after 14 years of marriage after work commitments “took their marriage in different directions”, and he has since been photographed while on holiday with girlfriend Katie Alexander.
The presenter has openly shared his dislike of the star, and the pair’s clashing words sparked a dispute that has been considered one of the biggest in show business.
Eamonn Holmes’s dislike of Phillip Schofield became so severe that he has no regrets that his outbursts caused problems at the end of his marriage to his wife Ruth Langsford.
A source told MailOnline: ‘Eamonn’s dislike of Phillip existed for a long time but became very public at the end of his marriage to Ruth. And as her hatred of him and ITV grew, the cracks in their relationship grew deeper.
‘Ruth was a little dismayed at Eamonn for making repeated inquiries into ITV after they were sacked from This Morning.
‘Ruth wasn’t thrilled about it. But given that she was still an established member of the Loose Women family, she found it a little uncomfortable for Eamonn to criticize ITV.
“But Eamonn hates Phillip and doesn’t regret what he said and certainly doesn’t believe he threw him under the bus.
‘He doesn’t regret any of his behavior; He thinks he’s addicted to fame and can’t believe he tried to relaunch himself with his documentary this week.
“Eamonn is trying to move on with his life and has no plans to reconcile with Philip.”
Eamonn declined to comment when contacted by Mail Online.
But a source close to the presenter said it would be wrong to suggest his comments about Philip or ITV had anything to do with the breakdown of his marriage.
A source close to Eamonn has revealed that he stands by his open speeches about Phillip (pictured), which we can reveal left his wife Ruth distraught towards the end of their marriage.
She and Eamonn announced their separation in May after 14 years of marriage after work commitments “took their marriage in different directions.”
Ruth is still a regular star on ITV favorite Loose Women and a source said she felt uncomfortable that her spouse was speaking out about the channel and how he felt betrayed by them.
In November 2021, Eamonn and Ruth were controversially sacked from This Morning after 15 years and replaced on the Friday show by Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond.
Eamonn was particularly offended at being sacked by ITV, claiming he was never given a precise reason.
His selection was made even more frustrating by his belief that ITV had given Phillip unwavering support, despite his behavior off set, a belief shared by Phillip’s former co-presenter Fern Britton and Amanda Holden, who presented briefly This Morning alongside him in 2015 while Holly was on maternity leave.
The incident confirmed Eamonn’s belief that Phillip had been constantly feted despite his bad behavior behind the scenes, sources claimed.
On Monday, Eamonn furiously lashed out at Phillip ahead of his return to TV, saying he is “very proud to have thrown him under the bus”.
While discussing Phillip’s much-maligned TV return on Channel 5’s Cast Away, Eamonn made his feelings clear.
When co-presenter Isobel Webster revealed on GB News Breakfast on Monday that Schofield claimed he had been “thrown under the bus”, Holmes was quick to respond: “Well, if I’m one of the people who threw him under the bus, I’m very proud to have done it…
“This man is addicted to fame, absolutely addicted to fame.”
Holmes, who has made no secret of the fact that he does not like Schofield, later added that Schofield “deserves to be in exile.”
On Monday, Eamonn angrily attacked Phillip ahead of his return to TV, saying he is “very proud to have thrown him under the bus” (pictured with Ruth and Holly Willoughby in 2019).
Rumors about animosity between Phillip and Eamonn had circulated for months, and the two had known each other for about three decades.
While Holmes presented GMTV, Schofield presented This Morning before Holmes joined him on the daytime show in 2006.
In a bid to keep the peace on the much-loved ITV daytime show, Holmes and Schofield had tried to keep their mutual resentment to themselves.
When Phillip came out as gay live on This Morning in February 2020, Eamonn was a picture of moral support, even though sources say he was furious at being forced to support the man he so disliked.
Today, both have renounced such claims. They openly despise each other to the point that “they would cross the street to not even have to look at each other,” according to a source who spoke to The Daily Mail.
“Usually it’s women who fight in showbiz, but Eamonn and Phil’s is by far the cruelest and cruelest fight on TV.
‘They hate each other. Eamonn can’t stand Phil and, although he never talked about it, now he just doesn’t care. He thinks Phil is a disgrace and a liar.
“Phil is silent about all this, but the feeling is mutual.”
The couple’s feud began with an incident involving Holmes’ ex-wife, Ruth Langsford.
In 2019, she filed an official complaint against Schofield after the presenter interrupted her mid-sentence while explaining what was coming on her This Morning segment.
Phillip said live at the time: ‘Guys, we’re going to have to jump in and stop them I’m afraid because we’re a bit tight on time at this end. Thank you, Ruth.’
Ruth, unimpressed, replied, “Well, I only had about two more words to say,” and slammed her pen shut angrily. Schofield later wrote about the exchange in his 2020 autobiography Life’s What You Make It.
Phillip launched his return to TV this week in Channel 5 series Cast Away, after leaving This Morning last year after admitting an affair with a younger colleague.
Eamonn was particularly irritated because he had made the effort to appear supportive of Schofield coming out on national television.
After ITV bosses told him about Schofield’s announcement when he and Langsford arrived at work that morning in February 2020, he was seen hugging Schofield.
“Eamonn felt very used by Phil in the coming out scenes,” a source said. ‘He and Ruth were told they had to be there and it seemed like they were best friends.
‘Eagle-eyed onlookers at the time said it was fake; Now we know it was. Eamonn despises Schofield and has for a long time.
Anger only increased after Holmes left ITV. And the moment Schofield admitted her affair with the young man, who ITV bosses refer to as Person X, she unleashed her fury.
It is believed that Eamonn and Ruth were particularly offended by how Schofield treated his young This Morning colleague, with whom he had an affair behind his own wife’s back.
Ruth knew the young man particularly well, having later moved to Loose Women (on which she was a presenter).
“Eamonn didn’t see all of this favorably,” said a source close to him. ‘He knew nothing about the relationship and felt cheated, like many of Schofield’s other colleagues. That was it for Eamonn. I simply couldn’t remain silent anymore.
Speaking about the young man in an interview on GB News after Schofield’s confession, Holmes said: ‘Ruth and I take special care of him.
“He never told us about any relationship, but we knew he was fragilely in a bad situation. “There is an incredible duty of care towards that young man.”
During the same talk, he criticized Phillip, saying that he “created an atmosphere where people hated him…he didn’t look at anyone.” He is a complete and utter narcissist.
Schofield’s friends say he was “very upset” by the interview and said it contributed to his already fragile mental state after he left ITV after admitting his affair.‘