Eamonn Holmes shared a message of thanks from wife Ruth Langsford as she praised the friends and fans who have supported her following her sister’s death.
The This Morning host confirmed last week that her older sister Jane had passed away after a “long illness” and told fans that she would be stepping back from her usual TV duties in order to “tak[e] time to grieve.”
As Holmes presented today’s show with guest host Rylan Clark-Neal, he addressed his wife’s absence and praised the former X Factor star for being a “great counselor” for Langsford during this difficult time.
“I came in last night and I couldn’t have any communication with my wife for two and a half hours,” he told viewers. “This man [Clark-Neal] was on the phone to her.”
“You’re superb, my friend, a great counselor,” he added. “You made her laugh for the first time in ten days or so which was lovely.”
He went on to share a special message from a “grateful” Langsford.
“Ruth wants me to say [thanks] to all of you who’ve been in touch via social media and various messages, so many people,” he said.
“Particularly to the production team, everyone who works here in this studio, everyone of them has been in touch and she’s so grateful.
“So thank you, she can’t reply to everything, she reads them all and it’s much, much appreciated.”
Earlier this week, Holmes tweeted a message of thanks for the “love and kind words” he and his wife have received following the bereavement.
“I just wanted to say, if I haven’t done so directly, Thank u [sic] for your kindness and compassion towards Ruth and the loss of her sister Julia,” he wrote.
“We both loved and cared for Julia with all our hearts and will miss her forever. Your love and kind words have been a great help. Thank you.”
Clark-Neal also stood in for Langsford during last Friday’s edition of This Morning and supported Holmes when he choked up while referencing the recent loss live on air.
“Nobody understands more than Rylan, he has been a great comfort to Ruth and a great help,” he said.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10.30am on ITV.
