Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford are reportedly “disappointed” by the decision to drop them from Fridays on This Morning.
The married couple have presented ITV’s daytime talk show since 2006, where they host Friday morning’s show in place of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
However, ITV confirmed last week that this spot would be taken over by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary in 2021, with Holmes and Langsford covering during the school holidays.
Loose Women presenter Gloria Hunniford, who is a close friend of Holmes and Langsford, told the Daily Mirror that the decision by ITV to demote the pair as they tried to “cater [to] every age group” had come as a shock.
“That one was very hard to understand - I don’t fully understand the reasons behind it,” she said.
“I’ve talked to Eamonn since, and he’s clearly disappointed. I think they find it very difficult to understand why the change.”
Earlier this week, Rylan Clark-Neal voiced his support for Holmes and Langsford, saying: “Ruth and Eamonn are my telly mum and dad, they have been since day one. They have been my biggest supporters out of the entire industry.”
Celebrating her move to a regular presenting spot on This Morning, Hammond said: “I never dreamt that when I first joined This Morning, initially for a few months, that I would still be there 19 years later.
“I genuinely care about the show and the viewers who watch, so it's a huge privilege and honour to be hosting a show I adore so much. I'm just really excited to be doing even more of what I love alongside the lovely Dermot.”
