All the clues Eamonn Holmes was set to quit This Morning months ago

July 2020 · 5 minute read

FANS of TV veteran Eamonn Holmes have been left shocked by the news he's quit This Morning after 15 years.

But here we take a look at the clues planted MONTHS ago that he was plotting to join GB News.

Swipe at bosses over 'sacking'

DESPITE being a huge hit with viewers on his regular Friday slot, Eamonn - and his wife Ruth - were surprisingly replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary.

The pair previously impressed bosses when they hosted the show together last summer and producers were keen to add more diversity to the line-up.

But it meant Eamonn and Ruth were "relegated" to being holiday cover for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

And it appears the star was unhappy with the decision.

He liked a tweet which read: "When you listen to @EamonnHolmes & @RuthieeL and the everyday normal things they get up to, it makes you wonder why management at @thismorning have relegated them to holidays only?

"They deserve a regular spot."

The swipe at bosses back in August appears to be a clear sign of tension behind the scenes.

Phillip Schofield 'feud'

RUTH famously had a falling out with Phillip Schofield in 2019 when The Sun revealed she'd made an official complaint against him.

Meanwhile eight other ITV presenters spoke about what they described as a “toxic” environment at This Morning.

Their bust-up came after Phillip rudely interrupted her while she was presenting a preview of Loose Women during an episode of This Morning.

In the clip, the presenters clash after Phil cuts a Loose Women segment short, with Ruth slamming her pen down in fury.

The presenter was left furious after the on-air spat and Ruth complained to ITV’s embattled new head of daytime TV Emma Gormley over Phillip’s conduct.

Things flared at the NTAs 2020 when the pair exchanged a VERY awkward hug during an acceptance speech for Best Live Magazine Show.

Although Ruth has never spoken publicly about the clash, Eamonn appears to have his wife's back.

He liked a series of shady tweets about Phil in September for "not letting him and Ruth speak at NTAs".

The This Morning team picked up the gong for Best Daytime programme and all headed to the stage to collect it, but it was just Holly Willoughby and Phil who were given the chance to speak.

Many spotted what appeared to be a frosty atmosphere between the rival presenters.

And Eamonn added fuel to the fire by liking shady tweets about Phil.

One message he liked read: “Last night I watched the NTV Awards and saw @thismorning add another trophy to the collection. It wouldn't have won if the judging had been based on today's mind numbing programme  @EamonnHolmes you are so very missed and you so deserved to be on that stage last night x”

Another tweet read: “People asking why @EamonnHolmes @RuthieeL didn't talk at the #awards That's what I was thinking i was waiting for them to take the mic it never happened such a #shame that's why i voted for @thismorning i wont again.”

While a third he was a fan of said: “Why do @EamonnHolmes or @RuthieeL never get to speak when #ThisMorning wins an award? It's them we voted for!.”

Eamonn feared he'd be 'cancelled' by the 'anti-woke brigade

THE TV star is departing This Morning after 15 years for a new job at 'anti-woke' channel GB News.

It's thought he will be fronting his own show on GB News 'several times a week' and is expected to start next year.

His sudden move comes after Earmonn came under fire last year when he suggested there could be a link between 5G masts and the spread of killer disease coronavirus.

Last April Ofcom received over 400 complaints after Eamonn said he believes there could be something to the claims linking 5G and coronavirus.

The host later clarified that he doesn't believe the theory that 5G has caused coronavirus is valid, and was simply "looking for answers", but his comments reportedly infuriated ITV bosses.

Therefore the move to GB News might not surprise fans as just a couple of months ago the veteran TV host  admitted worrying about saying the wrong thing and said it was time to "stand up to the woke".

“It’s a minefield, it’s a total worry all the time," reports the Daily Star.

“I don’t wake up in the morning and say, ‘I’m going to say something offensive to somebody’.

“I know I’m the most tolerant, caring, open-minded person but that doesn’t stop me saying that something is wrong or right, or having a joke.

“But there are people who wake up wanting to be offended and they literally want you sacked."

He added: “I do think we need him to stand up to woke."

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'Too pale, stale and male'

A TV insider previously told The Sun that Eamonn feared he was "too pale, stale and male" to remain a regular face on the show for much longer.

Eamonn and Ruth had presented Friday's episode of This Morning since 2006 - but after a shake-up they are now only called in during the school holidays when the main hosts have time off.

It's believed the couple were axed as part of a diversity drive on This Morning.

He publicly supported GB News

DESPITE being one of ITV's biggest stars, Eamonn insisted it was only fair to give GB News "a chance" when it launched amid controversy from viewers.

He said at the time: “We need a shake-up on the news front. I have huge respect for TV news but this is a reminder news is not just Westminster or a constant woke agenda.”

GB News began broadcasting in June with the aim of providing more opinion and debate unlike news rivals Sky News and BBC News.

Eamonn will be work alongside presenters such as Nigel Farage, Dan Wootton and Simon McCoy.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Andrew Neil stepped down as chairman just a couple of months after it went on air.

Eamonn Holmes quits This Morning after 15 years

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