TV host Ruth Langsford confessed that she and Eamonn Holmes "promptly burst into tears" as they bid a heart-wrenching farewell.

Ruth, who celebrates her 66th birthday today (Tuesday, March 17), and Eamonn were one of the golden couples of British television before they announced their surprising separation in May 2024. They had been married for 14 years and together for nearly three decades.

They have one child together, son Jack, born in 2002, whose departure for university in September 2020 sparked a wave of emotion from Ruth and her then-spouse.

She characterised their son as a "chip off the old block" as he embarked on his journey to the University of Salford to study Broadcast Journalism.

In her recent memoir Feeling Fabulous, Ruth said: "It was so exciting for him, and I didn't want to ruin it by blubbing everywhere, but I could feel the emotion welling up between us all," reports the Mirror.

"Eamonn and I said goodbye, got into the car, and both promptly burst into tears. As we drove off, I looked up to the seventh floor where his room was and I could see a hand at the window waving goodbye."

While Jack is Ruth's only child, Eamonn has three children with his first wife, Gabrielle.

Ruth has candidly discussed her separation from Eamonn in her book, confessing it felt "impossible to survive" initially. She disclosed that she would often begin her mornings after the split by shedding tears in the shower before work.

The Loose Women presenter stated: "The biggest emotion that threatened to swallow me up in the early days was sadness.

"When you have been with somebody for a long time - 26 years in our case - and had imagined what your future would look like, there is a sense of deep loss."

She continued that she anticipated being with Eamonn "forever" and discovered the separation "incredibly hard to come to terms with".

Ruth said: "Suddenly, life was different, with no clue what the months and years ahead would look like.

"I am not happy my marriage is over, but I have accepted it. I think this has been the biggest turning point for me because fighting against the inevitable is exhausting and pointless."

Since Ruth and Eamonn parted ways almost two years ago, Ruth has remained silent regarding her romantic life. Eamonn, conversely, has embarked on a relationship with relationship counsellor Katie Alexander, who is 23 years his junior.

Ruth suggested to her celebrity friend Rylan Clark that she would be inclined to pursue a younger man when she eventually re-enters the dating scene.

While appearing on his radio programme, they discussed dating again, to which Ruth remarked: "I'm going younger."

Eamonn and Ruth previously hosted This Morning on ITV every Friday between 2006 and 2021.