Alert – Eamonn Holmes is back on air after being forced to bow out due to ill health – but his GB News co-host is replaced

Eamonn Holmes was back on air for his GB News Breakfast show on Wednesday, after bowing out of Tuesday’s programme due to feeling unwell.

Although, this time, the 64-year-old broadcaster’s usual co-presenter Isabel Webster was missing and instead replaced with Ellie Costello.

Eamonn looked back to his normal self on the show and erupted into a rant about ‘workshy Britain’, taking a swipe at people ‘not wanting to work,’ after Sir Keir Starmer suggested he would not work after 6pm on Fridays if he became Prime Minister.  

The TV star usually works on Mondays to Wednesdays each week, but has confirmed he will be stepping in on Friday to help with the General Election coverage.

The presenter, who last week said he is ‘on borrowed time’, sparked concern on Wednesday among viewers after suddenly going missing halfway through a 7:45am interview.

Eamonn Holmes was back on air for his GB News Breakfast show on Wednesday, after bowing out of Tuesday’s programme due to feeling unwell

The broadcaster, 64, bowed out of his GB News Breakfast show early on Tuesday after feeling unwell

Eamonn stayed silent throughout the interview, leaving Isabel to ask the questions, before he left the desk offscreen. 

Isabel then presented the final 90 minutes of the show solo without explaining Eamonn’s absence. 

A spokesperson for GB News told that the star was forced to leave early due to ill health, explaining: ‘Eamonn had to finish a little earlier today as he was feeling unwell. He hopes to be back tomorrow.’ 

A friend added that Eamonn was in good spirits, despite having to go home early.

The TV personality spoke about his health problems at last week’s TRIC Awards, with the industry event also marking his first public appearance since he split from wife Ruth Langsford. 

The star has had a tough year, and admitted at the annual bash that he feels as though he is on ‘borrowed time’ because his father died at 65 of a fatal heart attack. 

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

Speaking in January he said the ‘harsh reality’ could be that he may never be able to walk alone again unaided. 

Ruth meanwhile is said to be grappling with ‘agonising guilt’ over her extranged husband’s health problems. 

The presenter sparked concern after suddenly going leaving halfway through a 7:45am interview with Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health Maria Caulfield on Tuesday

Eamonn was pictured a week ago at the TRIC Awards in his wheelchair as he was comforted by former colleague Charlotte Hawkins

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 ‘frail has been torture for her’. 

‘Even though she has every right to live her life and do what is right for her – she’s convinced the public will see her as abandoning Eamonn in his time of need as he struggles with his health,’ the insider explained this week.

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

In 2016, the star underwent a double-hip replacement operation lasting three-and-a-quarter hours after living with acute pain for many years. 

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

His years of chronic back pain started in spring 2021 – which came completely out of nowhere. The pain become so severe that it left him reliant on a walking stick, but soon found out the root cause.

Eamonn was seen arriving at the awards in a wheelchair and using a walker as he suffers from chronic back pain and is undergoing painful physio sessions 

Eamonn spoke about his health problems at last week’s TRIC Awards, with the industry event also marking his first public appearance since he split from wife Ruth Langsford (pictured in 2022) 

Eamonn made his first public appearance since news of his shock divorce at Tuesday’s TRIC Awards

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

In September 2022, Eamonn was forced to step away from his GB news show as he underwent vital back surgery to aid his chronic back pain.

Then in November 2022 he endured a horrific accident which saw him fall down a set of stairs at his home in Surrey leading him to break his shoulder weeks after his huge spinal surgery.

Shortly before their splie Ruth said she ‘lives 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 does the physio, but there might have to be some acceptance that this might never be 100% right. With any care situation – and there are millions of carers in this country – it isn’t always easy. It’s testing but we manage as a family.’

Ruth added: ‘I look at Eamonn, who’s had his health and back problems, and it makes you realise how important your health is.’

Discussing his woes at the beginning of the year, Eamonn himself said: ‘It’s as if somebody up there is playing with my life. In the past year I’ve had an operation on my back which went wrong and has confined me to a wheelchair. 

‘I’ve fallen and broken my shoulder. Honestly you could not make it up.’

He added: ‘I have tried every treatment, but you go. Maybe I’ll never get out of it,’ 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, however his new high tech equipment has allowed him to be more comfortable.