Happy 60th, Eamonn!

As the lovable presenter celebrates a milestone birthday, we look back at his life and TV career

- Hayley Minn

Eamonn Holmes turns 60 on 3 December and the TV host has spent well over half those years on screen. He started out as everyone’s favourite sex symbol on GMTV, now he’s wife Ruth Langsford’s naughty, but lovable, co-host on This Morning.

So what is it about Eamonn that has kept us entertained for 40 years?

Having fronted various shows on Ulster Television from 1979, Belfast-born Eamonn got his big break when he joined GMTV, hosting the first show on 1 January 1993 with Anne Davies, followed by other co-hosts including Lorraine Kelly, Fiona Phillips, and Anthea Turner.

Of all his famous interviewees, Eamonn revealed the worst person was magician David Blaine on the GMTV sofa in 2001.

Eamonn said, ‘He just refused to talk and so I did all the talking, and then he showed me the eye that he had drawn on his palm. I asked, “What’s that?” and he said, “Protection” and I said, “Protection from what?” and he said, “Death”. I thought, Well, I’ll need that because I’m dying on my feet here!’

And it’s not just the interviewees who Eamonn had trouble with during his GMTV years.

Eamonn hosted the show with Anthea from 1994 to 1996, and their relationship was famously fraught. Things actually got so tense between them that he called her ‘Princess Tippy Toes’ in an interview, and allegedly gave bosses an ultimatum – telling them he would leave if they didn’t get rid of Anthea.