Ruth Langsford details tearful late night phonecalls amid heartache of Eamonn Holmes split

Loose Women star Ruth Langsford split from husband Eamonn Holmes last year and her female friends stepped up to heal her heartbreak as he moved on with new girlfriend, Katie Alexander

TV str Ruth Langsford has credited her 'female friendships' for helping her get through the dark days amid her divorce from Eamonn Holmes.

The Loose Women panelist, 65, and GB News presenter, also 65, sent shockwaves through the showbiz world last May when they announced they were going their separate ways after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together. Now, eight months after their split, Ruth has detailed her heartbreak, admitting that her female friends were there to listen when she needed them most.

While Ruth has remained single following the split, she has watched Eamon move on with 42-year-old relationship counsellor Katie Alexander. In the dark moments of her heartbreak, the Loose Women star said that she could always rely on her friends to ground and support her - even during the very early hours of the morning. Speaking to Woman and Home Magazine, Ruth shared: "My female friendships are very important and, by God, have they stepped up.

"They did before, when my sister died, particularly. I’ve always known they’re there, but when the chips are down, they’re really there. They lift you up from the floor. They dry your tears, they bring food around, they phone you all the time to make sure you’re OK – and I would do the same for them. I can probably count those friends – the 2am friend – on one hand."

Following her marriage split, Ruth is now planning holidays herself, and is considering a visit to Thailand to see her best friend from school. Another option may be to go on a girls trip abroad to celebrate turning 65 as Ruth's goal for the year ahead is to put herself first and travel more. "As for the future, there is a certain feeling of liberation but I’m definitely not planning my next 10 years in finite detail," the Loose Women star told the publication.

Speaking about her divorce from Eamonn, Ruth admitted that it has been difficult - especially considering that it happened in front of the eyes of the entire nation. She revealed: "A break-up of a relationship is hard enough for anybody to deal with. A divorce is very difficult and it’s very painful, but most people don’t have to do it in the public eye, with everybody having an opinion about you and writing things about you and commenting things about you.

"But that’s the nature of my job. I’ve always had that and if you can’t cope with that, you shouldn’t be doing this job. I’m quite fine being on my own, but not forever. When you’re in a relationship, it’s easy to say, ‘Great, I’ve got a weekend to myself,’ but when you think that might be every weekend, it’s a different story."

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