Veteran broadcaster Eamonn Holmes reveals he ‘didn’t sleep a wink’ ahead of his GB New debut
Veteran broadcaster Eamonn Holmes reveals he ‘didn’t sleep a wink’ ahead of his GB New debut as he joins co-host Isabel Webster for channel’s new look breakfast show
Eamonn, 62, looked at home as he started his new show on the GB News channelHis co-presenter on the breakfast show is a former colleague, Isabel WebsterEamonn said he had endured a sleepless night ahead of the first show
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Veteran broadcaster Eamonn Holmes has finished his first day hosting the breakfast show on GB News, admitting ‘he didn’t sleep a wink’ before he went on air.
The TV presenter and journalist, 62, joined co-host Isabel Webster for the first episode of the channel’s new Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel programme on Monday.
Speaking to the audience at the start of the show, Holmes said: ‘I’m having some lovely messages from people all around the country who are looking forward to whatever we’re going to do differently. Hopefully we are going to do lots of things differently.
‘We’re going to do news, but we’re going to do news with views. We’re going to do your news, because if it is important to you, it is important to us.’
He admitted he ‘didn’t sleep a wink’ ahead of his first breakfast show on the channel.
Signing off at the end of the programme, he said: ‘We are coming to the end of our first day – and hopefully not our last day of the GB News breakfast show. A new look.’
After his first day presenting on GB News, Holmes was pictured leaving the studio without the aid of his walking stick, a positive sign after almost a year of debilitating back pain.
Looking chipper: Eamonn looked full of energy as he left after his first show on GB News
Eamonn has been a broadcaster and journalist for many years and this is his latest gig
On New Year’s Day he revealed the crippling pain he’s dealt with since his back injury has put ‘some strain’ on his relationship with wife Ruth, 61, as he told how she is ‘fed up’ with his constant ‘moaning’.
Holmes is now on the road to recovery after suffering a dislocated pelvis and three slipped discs in his back in March last year.
He also admits that his sons are ’embarrassed’ by the way he moves as he details the agony and daily challenges he’s had to endure.
Holmes said: ‘Even my own family are bored of my moaning. It has caused some strain and Ruth is fed up of hearing about it and of me saying I can’t walk the dog or tidy up, but I can’t help it. It’s agony.
‘I take Tramadol sometimes to help it but you can’t take them all the time and they will only give you so much. It gets me through a Saturday if we have plans, and suddenly everyone has a nice time again — but then the pain comes back.’
And despite being put through his paces by trainer James, who does ‘weird and wonderful procedures’ to get him flexible in the mornings, Holmes admitted that it was a ‘slow progress’ and that he feels he sometimes has to ‘hide’ how he feels so as to not frustrate anyone.
But he was in excited spirits after making his debut on GB News.
The bright set behind them gave the new show a proper breakfast programme feel for day one
Difficult time: ‘Even my own family are bored of my moaning. It has caused some strain and Ruth is fed up of hearing about it and of me saying I can’t walk the dog or tidy up, but I can’t help it. It’s agony’
‘I need to make a long-term plan about how to get up in the morning,’ said Holmes. ‘I didn’t sleep a wink last night. My kids brought me a fancy alarm clock that went off and then I couldn’t turn it off.’
It was announced in November that Holmes would be leaving ITV after 15 years hosting This Morning alongside his wife Ruth Langsford.
In announcing his departure from ITV, Holmes said: ‘I’ve spent my career on broadcasting firsts and start-ups and GB News is one of the most exciting yet. It’s just the kind of shake-up the industry needs.
Oh no: Eammon Holmes has revealed the crippling pain he’s dealt with since his back injury has put ‘some strain’ on his relationship with wife Ruth Langsford, 61, as he told how she is ‘fed up’ with his constant ‘moaning’
‘I’ve admired GB News from the beginning for its clever mix of punchy debate but delivered with warmth and even some fun.
‘To me the greatest honour in journalism is to give a voice and respect to the unheard, and that’s exactly what GB News is all about.’
Holmes, from Belfast, is the latest signing to the fledgling channel.
He joins on-air talent including former Sky anchor Colin Brazier, ITV News journalist Alastair Stewart and former Labour MP Gloria De Piero.
Before This Morning, Holmes presented GMTV and has also worked across radio, with slots on stations including Radio 5 Live, Magic, BBC Radio 2, and talkRadio.
