Alert – Eamonn Holmes, 64, and Katie Alexander, 42, are ‘in it for the long haul and spend most weekends together’ – even though he and estranged wife Ruth Langsford are still wearing their rings

Eamonn Holmes is said to be smitten with Katie Alexander and their blossoming friendship has been ‘taken to the next level’, can reveal.

Friends close to the TV presenter, 64, and the counsellor, 42, have claimed they are ‘in it for the long haul’ and are now spending most weekends together at his Richmond flat after his marriage to Ruth Langsford ended.

Eamonn and Katie are mulling over when to take their relationship public and are said to have been offered ‘big money’ for the official first pictures of them together.

While Katie is keen to get the moment out of the way, Eamonn is said to be holding back in a bid to protect his estranged wife Ruth’s feelings.

The source told us: ‘They’ve been offered some decent money for the first pictures of them together. 

Eamonn Holmes is said to be smitten with Katie Alexander and their blossoming friendship has been ‘taken to the next level’, can reveal

Friends close to the TV presenter, 64, and the counsellor, 42, have claimed they are ‘in it for the long haul’ and are now spending most weekends together at his Richmond flat after his marriage to Ruth Langsford ended

‘Katie just wants to get it over and done with but Eamonn is less keen because he doesn’t want to hurt Ruth’s feelings.’

Despite his blossoming relationship going from strength to strength, Eamonn and Ruth have both been seen still wearing their wedding rings recently. 

Eamonn and Katie’s friendship advanced when he moved out of the marital home he shared with Ruth after his devastated wife discovered messages between him and another mystery woman.

Eamonn and Ruth announced they were going their separate ways in May following a 27 year relationship and 14 years of marriage.

Katie has disclosed to pals that their previous ‘close friendship ‘ has ‘gone up several notches’.

And our source added: ‘Katie and Eamonn are definitely in it for the long haul. She says she loves him and he loves her.’

Katie sparked engagement speculation after being snapped with a diamond ring on her wedding finger over the weekend.

But we can also reveal the sparkler is a ‘years old’ piece of jewellery and Eamonn hasn’t gone down on one knee to pop the question to the counsellor – who specialises in helping people recover from the trauma of marriage break-ups.

A source told us: ‘Katie’s had that ring forever – it’s years old. The picture has caused some real hilarity amongst her family and friends and also quite a bit of bewilderment. It seems like she’s playing games to create headlines and speculation.

Despite his blossoming relationship going from strength to strength, Eamonn and Ruth have both been seen still wearing their wedding rings recently (pictured together in 2021)

Eamonn and Ruth announced they were going their separate ways in May following a 27 year relationship and 14 years of marriage 

Eamonn had become intimate with the counsellor specialising in ‘affair and betrayals’ months before his marriage split.

In the last year, he grew close to Katie behind the back of his devastated wife and co-presenter legend Ruth.

The star showered Katie with gifts and trips and befriended her kids as their close relationship developed further.

The breakfast host treated Katie and her family to a Woburn Safari Park trip in Bedford in February – even sharing snaps on social media of their outing.

Eamonn did not publicly reveal that he was on a day trip with his new companion.

Katie’s head was just visible in the back of a jeep which he posed in front of – with unsuspecting fans having no idea of the blossoming romance behind Ruth’s back.

He treated her and her two youngest kids to a stay at Center Parcs last year as well as a trip to a Beyonce gig last.

Die-hard Manchester United fan Eamonn gave Katie and her kids his tickets to a Premier League game at Old Trafford last season. 

Ruth Langsford was still wearing her wedding ring in a new snap three months after splitting from her estranged husband Eamonn

And in a further hammer blow to his now estranged wife Ruth, on multiple occasions, Katie left her northern home to stay at the four-star Brooklands Hotel in Weybridge, Surrey – just a 10 minutes’ drive from Eamonn’s marital home.

Katie was spotted at the sprawling spa destination – next to Mercedes Benz World and a motor racing track – in March and was described as a ‘frequent visitor’.

The counsellor told her pals she had enjoyed a ‘wonderful weekend’ and she also visited Northern Ireland with Eamonn.

Also last October, the TV star attended a small fundraising event in Yorkshire mental health counselling charity Platform 1 – agreeing to become a patron. It was just minutes from Katie’s home.

The charity – a nine-hour round trip from Eamonn’s home – is where Katie worked for two years.

Divorcee Katie met Eamonn via Twitter after she commented on a post and it sparked a conversation in 2015.