Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford have confirmed they are spending Christmas separately this year.
The couple said there will be ‘a sea between them’ this holiday season as Eamonn, 61, heads to Belfast to spend Christmas with his 92-year-old mother Josephine.
Loose Women star Ruth will stay in England to celebrate with her mother Joan, 93.
The This Morning presenters revealed that they came up with the agreement as Ruth’s mother ‘needs her’ around and both want to spend time with their ageing parents.
Additionally, they have insisted the arrangement is “not a problem”.
Speaking to Woman & Home magazine, Eamonn said: “We have this issue now, in that we’ve got a sea dividing us.
“We often have a dilemma of whether I go to Belfast, whether Ruth comes with me.
“But Ruth wants to be with her mum.
“My mother is 93 this year. It’s easier for us often to be apart.”
Speaking about their plans, Ruth added “Being apart for Christmas has never been a problem.
“I wouldn’t be going to Belfast this year, because I need to be with my mum. It’s about family for me.”
Ruth has previously revealed that Joan suffers from dementia and is in a care facility.
The TV personality regularly visits her mother, who is a regular addition in her social media posts on Instagram.
The unveiling of Ruth and Eamonn’s Christmas plans follows tragedy striking the family after Ruth’s 62-year-old sister Julia Johnson died by suicide in June 2019.
Admitting that she avoids speaking with her mother about her sister’s death on Loose Women in April, Ruth said: “I think she probably feels the same way as me, so sometimes we both hold back from discussing my sister.
“Especially during the pandemic when I haven’t been able to be there with her, I don’t want to talk about my sister on the phone.
“I had visions of my mum being on her own afterwards in tears. But I think [grieving is] about allowing people to talk, actually, it’s good to talk.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk