This is London
27 April 2005
TV presenter Eamonn Holmes quit GMTV with a farewell message from Prime Minister Tony Blair today - on the same day it emerged he is getting divorced.
Holmes, who is leaving the show after 12 years, is getting divorced from his wife Gabrielle, from whom he split almost a decade ago.
The couple have three children, Declan, 15, Rebecca, 14, and Niall, 11, and Holmes has another son, three-year-old Jack, with his partner, TV presenter Ruth Langsford.
He said: "Gabrielle and I have been apart for almost 10 years. It was hardly a surprise to anyone, least of all us.
"It may be the end of the marriage but it's not the end of the relationship. We share three children we both adore."
Holmes, who is Britain's longest-serving breakfast TV host, told GMTV viewers today he was the "luckiest man in the world" as he graced the sofa for the last time.
He joked with anchorwoman Fiona Phillips about working with gorgeous women, saying: "Look at the beautiful women you wake up with in the morning.
"Maybe I have not appreciated it as much as I should have."
Phillips choked back tears as other presenters, including Lorraine Kelly, joined Holmes, 45, on the sofa for a final farewell.
He was presented with a cake iced with figures of himself and Phillips on the sofa, and a message that read: "Bye Bye Eamonn."
Phillips praised his compassion, wit and passion for the job and thanked him for all he had taught her.
Holmes joked that "this is embarrassing", telling viewers: "It's you folks I've got to say thank you to.
"I used to say 'see you in the morning' but I won't," adding that he now planned to have a lie-in.
Phillips read out messages from wellwishers, including one from Mr Blair.
It said the sofa would not be the same without Holmes, adding: "You've always been a very fair interviewer."
Holmes split from his wife after he spent years commuting between the GMTV studios and their home in Belfast.
He then found new love with Langsford and the couple now live in Surrey with their son.
Despite his fond farewell today, the Ulsterman criticised GMTV earlier this year, saying it was "formulaic and no longer covers real news".
He famously loathed Anthea Turner when they shared the sofa, and dubbed her "Princess Tippy Toes". Friends of Turner said their off-screen spats regularly reduced her to tears.
His partnership with Phillips has been more successful and has lasted nine years.
Holmes started his TV career on a farming show in his native Northern Ireland, but got his big break when he took over from Gloria Hunniford as host of Good Evening Ulster aged just 21.
After a stint on the BBC's Manchester-based Open Air show - he is a devoted Manchester United fan - he joined GMTV in 1993.
Over the years he has interviewed hundreds of celebrities, but his most famous encounter was with illusionist David Blaine.
Blaine refused to speak during the excruciating interview and communicated only by staring and flashing an eye drawn on the palm of his hand.
In the past few years he has presented shows for the BBC, including National Lottery Jet Set and the recent Hard Spell.
He also hosts a Saturday morning show on Radio Five Live and writes a weekly newspaper column.
In a GMTV press release Holmes said: "What a privilege it has been to wake up the nation over the years with stories that affected all our lives.
"I've covered every type of story imaginable at GMTV and it's the right time to move on.
"I'll particularly miss my partnership with Fiona Phillips and I wish her and all the rest of the team the very best for the future."
well if they won he did, however if they lost football hardly got a mention the morning after.
