'I'm embracing THE FACT I'M SINGLE'

Ruth Langsford on 'difficult divorce', weight loss and leaning on her female friends

- ROBYN MORRIS

As far as strong women go, Ruth Langsford is definitely up there with the best of them. She carved out a long and successful career for herself, and most recently is having to navigate her divorce from Eamonn Holmes. Since the announcement of their split last May, Ruth has kept a dignified silence - her close friend and Loose Women co-star Coleen Nolan said, 'I've never met anyone that has handled something with so much dignity and pride. She's just such a lady, more of a lady than I'll ever be, I would've spilled my guts.'

Now, ahead of her 65th birthday later this month, Ruth has finally opened up, saying, 'Relationship breakdowns are very difficult - marriage, friendship, whatever it is - but you just deal with it and you have to move on. You can either let yourself crumble or you pick yourself up and get on with life. It's a choice.'

Strong and determined as ever, here Ruth talks about the next chapter of her life as a single woman in her 60s.

Staying positive