Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford ‘holding heartbreaking talks over who will get custody of beloved pet dog Maggie as they try to avoid bringing in lawyers to settle matter after split’

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford have reportedly had heartbreaking conversations about who will get custody of their beloved dog following their divorce.

TV’s ‘golden couple’ have split after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together and have publicly declared they are divorcing after work commitments ‘sent their marriage in a different direction’.

Ruth, 64, shared a video of her walking Collie over Maggie on Sunday in her first social media post since news of their split surfaced, saying the pet is like a “second child” to her and her estranged husband.

The 14-year-old dog, who was adopted by the former couple in 2011, was a regular feature of Eamonn’s Instagram page when he and Ruth were together.

Former couple Eamonn and Ruth are said to have led ‘separate lives’ for two years and are now having ‘difficult conversations’ about who will keep Maggie, and are said to be trying to avoid lawyers being called in over the situation, such as Ant McPartlin and his ex Lisa Armstrong .

The 14-year-old dog, who was adopted by the former couple in 2011, was a regular feature of Eamonn’s Instagram page when he and Ruth were together

Former couple Eamonn and Ruth have reportedly been living ‘separate lives’ for two years and are now having ‘difficult conversations’ about who will keep Maggie

A source said The sun: ‘Maggie is like a daughter to them. They adore her. But she is doing well and they know she needs stability.

‘It’s a matter of who can give her that. Eamonn adores her and Maggie has been a great support during his health problems. The thought of giving her up is heartbreaking for him.

‘But if Ruth is able to get out more and take her for walks, she could very well get Maggie in the middle.

‘They are confident that this will not happen like what Ant and Lisa experienced and that they will not involve lawyers.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Eamonn and Ruth for comment.

It comes after it emerged Ruth had ‘orchestrated’ her split from Eamonn, who is left devastated and refused to sign the joint statement announcing the end of their almost 30-year relationship.

The couple officially said this weekend that they are ‘determined to remain friends and keep things amicable’.

But it was a joint effort – the statement citing their work commitments that took their marriage ‘in different directions’ was in fact arranged by Ruth, with Eamonn, 64, refusing to play any part in its release.

Ruth shared a video of herself walking the couple’s dog Maggie on Instagram on Sunday, along with another clip of her mother Joan.

Ruth’s mother Joan was seen petting Maggie as the dog sat on her lap

Eamonn reportedly told friends he “didn’t want to get involved” and that “Ruth can do whatever she wants but keep me out of it.”

As millions of people digest the sad news of their plans to divorce, Ruth spent her holiday weekend with loved ones.

The couple until recently lived together in their £3.2 million home in Weybridge, Surrey. Ruth walked the dog between rain showers yesterday and spent time with her mother Joan.

She said on Instagram: “Enjoy what little sunshine we have today.”

The former This Morning presenters, both 64, revealed they had split on Saturday after work commitments ‘took their marriage in a different direction’.

A rep said: ‘Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing.’

The couple tied the knot in 2010 after 13 years together – and say they are ‘determined to remain friends’ despite their split.

They are parents to son Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has sons Declan, 35, Niall, 31, and daughter Rebecca, 33, from his previous marriage.

Eamonn and Ruth have denied there were any problems with their relationship in recent months, although friends of the couple say the marriage has been over for a year (pictured in 2009).

Eamonn and Ruth married in 2010 after thirteen years together, in a lavish ceremony at the grand 19th century Hampshire hotel, The Elvetham.

Insiders claimed on Sunday that the pair have been living separate lives for two years, with their relationship deteriorating after they left This Morning in 2021.

Eamonn has had a tough two years, losing the ITV show, dealing with health problems and mourning the death of his mother. The presenter was keen to move to Belfast but Ruth was adamant they would stay at their home in Surrey.

A source said The Zo on Sunday: ‘Eamonn and Ruth’s relationship changed when they left This Morning. They started going in different directions in their careers and their priorities started to change. Eamonn was desperate to return to Belfast, which he considers his home, but Ruth would never move. It became a point of contention.

‘As her ITV career continued, Eamonn took a different path and they became ships in the night. For the past two years they had led separate lives, both professionally and personally.’