Eamonn Holmes has recalled how he was made redundant from his job at Open Air because of how successful rival This Morning was.
The now-This Morning presenter, 58, appeared on Wednesday’s episode of the ITV programme as part of the show’s 30th birthday celebrations.
He quipped: “So what does this show mean to me? It lost me my job! I was made redundant because this show was so successful.
Read more: Theresa May makes cameo in This Morning’s 30th birthday sketch
“We were on a show called Open Air and it had the airwaves to itself on daytime TV. Then This Morning came along a year later and we lasted another year and then that was it because This Morning was so successful.
“And the thing that this show does and has done all that time, it informs, it educates and it entertains. It’s actually great fun. There is nothing like this on TV.”
Meanwhile, Eamonn’s wife Ruth Langsford revealed how she used to secretly watch her now-husband Eamonn on the BBC because she fancied him – even though she worked for its rival ITV at the time.
The This Morning presenter couldn’t believe it when she heard about the brunch-time show launching with married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan as its hosts in 1988 and she never predicted at the time that she and the Irish journalist, whom she married in 2010, would step into their shoes in 2006 and front the show on Fridays.
Speaking in today’s episode to mark 30 years since its launch, Ruth recalled: “When This Morning started I was working for ITV down in the West Country and I wasn’t on the TV, I was a transmission assistant.
“I was intrigued because we had heard all about this new show and I was completely intrigued that they were married because I thought: ‘Oh we haven’t seen a married couple like this.’
“And this fascinated me. And then on our monitors, we used to have one monitor that aired the BBC feed, which I wasn’t supposed to listen to, it was just there.
“But every so often I used to switch over because there was this very handsome Irish man on there. I used to think: ‘Oh he’s a bit of alright.’ And then 30 years later, here I am married to him and on the show.”
Isn’t life funny sometimes?!
Eamonn and Ruth serve as the Friday hosts for This Morning and also step in when Monday to Thursday hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby are on holiday.
Read more: Richard & Judy celebrate 30 years of This Morning
Elsewhere on This Morning’s 30th birthday show, fans saw a special opening credits sequence featuring cameo appearances from famous faces including Prime Minister Theresa May!
When you're late for work you've gotta call in the big dogs, right @Schofe ? 🛩️#ThisMorning30 @hollywills @radioleary #JodieWhittaker @nightingaleitv @lemontwittor @theresa_may @RedDevilsOnline pic.twitter.com/4yLaZj1VZ1
— This Morning (@thismorning) October 3, 2018
The show also invited a studio audience made up from viewers who have all seen their lives changed as a direct result of This Morning.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10.30am on ITV.
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