Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford’s friends fear TV golden couple’s split ‘is about to get nasty’ as she is left ‘hurt’ by his ‘unfair’ on-stage dig

The tension surrounding Eamonn Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford’s divorce could be on display as the breakup of TV’s golden couple enters the public arena this week.

GB News star Eamonn sent a barbed wire message to his estranged wife at the TRIC Awards on Tuesday, telling a crowd of their mutual friends and colleagues that he had been stabbed in the back.

And friends say Ruth believes the comments were directed at her, with insiders noting the divorce is taking a turn for the worse.

A source told MailOnline that ‘Ruth took Eamonn’s words as an attack on her. She felt it was unfair and hurtful,’ adding that ‘friends are worried this is going to get really ugly.’

Accepting the gong for best breakfast show at Tuesday’s industry event, Eamonn told the audience: “So I’ve got two things in my back that I didn’t want,” apparently referring to both his recent operation and Ruth.

He said, ‘I sometimes think that we [GB News presenters] they all have imposter syndrome, why is that kind of thing.

‘A year and a half ago I had surgery and it went wrong. So I got two things in the back of my mind that I didn’t want, so why not, I’m happy to accept this.’

Eamonn and Ruth, both 64, announced their plans to divorce last month after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together, and Eamonn has since moved from his marital home in Surrey.

The British news star has had a tough year, admitting at Tuesday’s bash that he feels like he’s on “borrowed time” as his father died of a fatal heart attack at the age of 65.

Eamonn was seen arriving at the awards in a wheelchair as he suffers from chronic back pain and undergoes painful physiotherapy sessions.

Speaking in January, he said the “harsh reality” could be that he may never be able to walk alone without assistance again.

Ruth, meanwhile, is said to be struggling with “painful guilt” over her estranged husband’s health problems.

Claims have emerged that Ruth is torn between helping Eamonn and moving on with her life, with a source telling Bella magazine that Ruth feels “terribly guilty” and seeing recent photos of her ex “looking vulnerable” has been torture for her.

“Even though she has every right to live her life and do what is right for her, she is confident the public will see her abandon Eamonn in a time of need as he struggles with his health,” the insider explained this week.

Eamonn previously praised Ruth for her ‘amazing’ support after he fell down the stairs of their home in November 2022.

In 2016, the star underwent double hip surgery that lasted three and a half hours after living with acute pain for years.

Then in 2018, Eamonn described his battle with shingles and how he was struck down by the virus on his son Declan’s wedding day.

His years of chronic back pain started in the spring of 2021 – which came completely out of the blue. The pain became so severe that he had to rely on a walking stick, but he soon discovered the cause.

He eventually discovered that it was three hernias that affected the movement of his right leg.

In September 2022, Eamonn was forced to quit his British news show as he underwent crucial back surgery to alleviate his chronic back pain.

He then suffered a horrific accident in November 2022 where he fell down a flight of stairs at his Surrey home, causing him to break his shoulder weeks after his massive spinal surgery.

Shortly before their splie, Ruth said she is “living in hope” that his mobility will improve.

Speaking to Woman’s Weekly, Ruth said: ‘I don’t know how much Eamonn’s mobility will improve. We live in hope.

‘He’s doing the physio, but maybe there needs to be some acceptance that this may never be 100% right. Every healthcare situation – and there are millions of healthcare providers in this country – is not always easy. It’s a challenge, but we’re making it as a family.”

Ruth added: ‘When I look at Eamonn, who has health and back problems, you realise how important your health is.’

Speaking about his woes at the start of the year, Eamonn himself said: ‘It’s like someone up there is playing with my life. This past year I had surgery on my back that failed and left me in a wheelchair.

‘I fell and broke my shoulder. To be honest, you couldn’t make it up.’

He added: ‘I’ve tried every treatment, but you go. I may never get out,’ which is a harsh reality to face.”

Eamonn admitted he didn’t even know if he would be able to attend the annual TRIC Awards on Tuesday, but his new high-tech equipment is making him feel more at ease.

He arrived in a new wheelchair and told the audience it was full of “gadgets” before leaving the venue with the aid of a walker.

Charlotte Hawkins showed her support for her former Sky News co-hosted at the bash, seen with the Good Morning Britain star he hugged Eamonn as he sat in his wheelchair with his colleagues from GB News.

Onlookers watched as she giggled with a petite-looking Eamonn as she placed her hand on his back during the event.

The pair, who co-hosted the Sunrise show between 2007 and 2014, were seen chatting for several minutes.

A bystander said: ‘Charlotte seemed really worried about Eamonn. She walked over from her own table to see him, as it would have been quite difficult for him to move.

‘Charlotte seemed to comfort him and check that he was okay. They were chatting and then giggling a bit.”

His reunion with her comes just days after it emerged he has been supported by blonde relationship counsellor Katie Alexander, 42, over the past 12 months during his marriage breakdown.

Although his link-up with Lisa is believed to be platonic, sources have told MailOnline that Katie is ‘in love’ with the broadcaster.

Katie, 42, is said to be ‘in love’ with the presenter after she supported him during his turbulent split.

The divorcee and mother of three has become close to the star after a ‘series of outings’ together and has reportedly said she is ‘in it for the long haul’.

Now friends have told MailOnline that she and Eamonn are so close that she is ‘in love’ with him.