Newly single Ruth Langsford appeared to put her marriage woes behind her last week as she enjoyed a boozy night out with her former This Morning co-star Rylan Clark.
Amid reports that things are hotting up with her ex-husband Eamonn Holmes and his new girlfriend Katie Alexander, the Loose Women star headed out for a swanky dinner with pal Rylan, where she was seen drinking Prosecco and downing two Espresso Martinis at the same time. They were joined by pals Lizzie Cundy and Kimberley Morgan before the group headed back to Rylan’s house to carry on the party.
Now, a source tells Closer that Rylan, 35, who split from his husband Dan Neal in 2021, has been a huge support to Ruth throughout her divorce. ‘Rylan has been a solid friend to Ruth. He’s got the T-shirt, he’s been through a divorce himself so he’s there for her now and she’s there for him too. They are great friends,’ our insider says.
Ruth and Eamonn, both 64, who are parents to 22-year-old son Jack, announced their split in May after 14 years of marriage. Shortly after, it was revealed that the GB News host had been growing close to marriage counsellor Katie, 42, who he recently jetted off to Spain with.
And it seems that things are getting serious between the pair, with reports that they have plans to move in together. Meanwhile, Ruth has been spotted still wearing her wedding ring. When one eagle-eyed follower asked her why, she bluntly replied, ‘Because I am still married’.
Our source continues, ‘Eamonn and Ruth are living in two different worlds now. Eamonn has been very solitary, he only wants to be with Katie and she has got her hooks into him – she wants marriage and thinks he’s her soulmate. They want to buy a house in Belfast and be together.
‘Ruth is trying to cope with all this. Obviously it hurts and it’s very shocking, but she’s relying on friends like Rylan to distract her and make sure she’s having lots of fun – and that’s why Rylan is so good for her.’
Their friendship goes back years after meeting on This Morning. Last year, Rylan admitted he could count the number of celebrity friends he has ‘on one hand’, naming Ruth as one of them, while she often calls him her ‘TV son’.
Following his own divorce, which left him at ‘rock bottom’, Rylan revealed how Ruth and Eamonn once turned up at his house. ‘I just remember breaking down and saying, “Get out, I don’t want to see anyone”. And they had driven two hours to get there. They did that because they cared about me. And I would do the same. Ruth and Eamonn are like my mum and dad,’ he said.
Now, with the help of friends, Ruth is determined to pick herself up and concentrate on the future. Our source adds, ‘She wants to focus on herself, on her work and getting out there. She’s going out and having a laugh as a distraction from what’s going on.’