Eamonn Holmes has liked a cryptic tweet after it was confirmed that he would be replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary on This Morning’s Friday shows.
Taking to Twitter on Monday night, the Irish presenter, 60, responded to a message which said that the TV business can be ‘so cruel’.
It came just hours after it was confirmed that Alison, 45, and Dermot, 47, would be replacing Eamonn and his wife Ruth Langsford, both 60, as Friday hosts of This Morning.
‘This business can be so cruel!’: Eamonn Holmes has liked a cryptic tweet after it was confirmed that he would be replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary on This Morning’s Friday shows
Eamonn and Ruth, who have presented This Morning for 14 years will be demoted to hosting the ITV favourite during holidays.
Responding to a series of tweets from fans on Monday night after the news was confirmed, Eamonn liked a cryptic message about how ‘cruel’ the TV business can be.
The presenter replied to a tweet from American journalist, Kinsey Schofield, who wrote: ‘I really enjoy you and your wife. This business can be so cruel.
‘I will continue to support you and whatever you decide to do next. Congratulations on so many brilliant years executing the job wonderfully.’
Confirmed: It came just hours after it was confirmed that Alison, 45, and Dermot, 47, would be replacing Eamonn and his wife Ruth Langsford, both 60, as Friday hosts of This Morning
Response: Taking to Twitter on Monday night, the Irish presenter, 60, responded to a message from American journalist, Kinsey Schofield, where she said: ‘This business can be so cruel’
To which Eamonn replied: ‘Very kind of u to say Lady K [hands emoji] Appreciate it ..’
The star also liked several other tweets from his 1 million followers, with some fans saying they were ‘gutted’ and ‘sobbing’ over the shakeup.
Yet despite the cryptic tweet, both Eamonn and his wife Ruth shared a sweet message to This Morning’s new Friday hosts Alison and Dermot on Monday shortly after the news was announced following rift rumours.
The two stars both sent out an identical statement which read: ‘It’s a changing of the guard on Fridays from January. We hope you make Alison and Dermot as welcome as you’ve made us over the years.
Reaching out: The star also liked several other tweets from his 1 million followers, with some fans saying they were ‘gutted’ and ‘sobbing’ over the shakeup
Demoted: Eamonn and Ruth, who have presented This Morning for 14 years will be demoted to hosting the ITV favourite during holidays
‘Have a Ball you two ! It’s not Goodbye from us, it’s simply Au Revoir until the next half term.’
The earlier announcement revealed that 60-year-old show veterans Eamonn and Ruth – who have presented This Morning for 14 years – will be demoted to hosting the ITV favourite during holidays.
The incoming presenters will begin their new coveted jobs on January 8, joining a lineup that also includes main hosts Phillip Schofield, 58, and Holly Willoughby, 39.
Support: Yet despite the cryptic tweet, both Eamonn and his wife Ruth shared a sweet message to This Morning’s new Friday hosts Alison and Dermot on Monday shortly after the news was announced following rift rumours
‘Make them feel as welcome as you made us’: The two stars both sent out an identical statement to their social media after it was confirmed
Breaking her silence on the shake-up following weeks of speculation, Alison, 45, said in a statement: ‘I never dreamt that when I first joined This Morning – initially for a few months – that I would still be there 19 years later.
‘I genuinely care about the show and the viewers who watch, so it’s a huge privilege and honour to be hosting a show I adore so much. I’m just really excited to be doing even more of what I love alongside the lovely Dermot.’
Sharing his own statement, co-host Dermot, 47, said: ‘I’m deeply thrilled and honoured to be joining the This Morning team next year. We have huge shoes to fill and we are well aware what a privilege it is to be stepping into them.
‘Above all, we want to have fun and for you to be able to kick your weekend off with a smile, especially given the year we’ve all had.
Replaced: The earlier announcement revealed that 60-year-old show veterans Eamonn and Ruth – who have presented This Morning for 14 years – will be demoted to hosting the ITV favourite during holidays
Not long now: The incoming presenters will begin their new coveted jobs on January 8, joining a lineup that also includes main hosts Phillip Schofield, 58, and Holly Willoughby, 39
‘So I’m delighted to be co-hosting with the living embodiment of sunshine on a rainy day. I can’t wait to get started.’
The news comes after Alison revealed that presenters on This Morning aren’t the best of friends, amid claims she’s locked in a feud with Ruth and Eamonn.
In an interview conducted before the shakeup was revealed, Alison claimed that only main hosts Holly and Phillip are off-camera pals.
The TV personality, who attended Ruth and Eamonn’s 2010 wedding, told The Sun: ‘We’re not on top of each other, do you know what I mean?
‘Phillip and Holly, they go on holiday together. They genuinely love each other, in a brother and sister way.
‘But literally when we finish everyone wants to go home to their families and see them. We’ve got it just right I think. But no they all go and do their own thing.’
On Thursday, Alison shared a cryptic message, as she took to her Instagram account to tell her followers that ‘strong people don’t tear down others’.
Pals: The news comes after Alison revealed that presenters on This Morning aren’t the best of friends, amid claims she’s locked in a feud with Ruth and Eamonn
Days earlier, Ruth was forced to deny she was making a dig at Alison, after it was revealed the former Big Brother star will replace her on the flagship daytime show.
Amid the ongoing drama, Alison posted a cartoon picture of a girl and a dolphin rising to the surface of the ocean together, with the words: ‘Strong people don’t put others down. They lift them up.’
The post received an outpouring of love from Alison’s followers and her celebrity pals, with Martine McCutcheon commenting: ‘Yes. 100 percent.’
This Morning’s resident medic, Dr. Zoe Williams commented with a heart and 100% emojis.
Last week, Ruth denied that her comments were ‘directed at anyone in particular’ after criticising reality stars and their rise to fame in a recently resurfaced interview.
The TV host’s comments came before it was revealed that she would be replaced on This Morning by Alison, an ex Big Brother contestant, in the shake-up by ITV bosses.
Ruth previously said that she and her husband had ‘put the work in’ to get into their positions and didn’t ‘do a reality show’ and ‘get an overnight job’.
Before the new hosting line-up was revealed earlier this month, she told The Sunday Mirror’s Notebook Magazine: ‘We’ve put the work in.
ITV shakeup: Amid the ongoing This Morning drama, Alison posted a picture of a girl and a dolphin, with the words, ‘Strong people don’t put others down’
Support: The post received an outpouring of love from Alison’s followers and her celeb pals, with Martine McCutcheon commenting, ‘Yes. 100 percent’
‘We didn’t do a reality show and get an overnight job on the telly. We’ve come up through the ranks.’
But representatives for Ruth have denied that her comments were ‘directed at anyone’ insisting that they had been made as a ‘general observation’.
The spokesperson continued: ‘The comments from Ruth were made as a general observation in an interview conducted more than six weeks ago, about the industry and different routes into the business.
‘Ruth was simply illustrating a point that whereas some presenters launch their careers by being on other TV programmes first, her and Eamonn’s experience and career paths had taken a different and more traditional path.
‘This wasn’t directed at anyone in particular – indeed she has always been supportive of a number of her professional colleagues and friends who have taken this route.’
Earlier this month, it was revealed that the married couple had been dropped from the ITV chat show after both presenting the hit Friday morning slot for 14 years.
But the duo will continue to host the ITV show from Monday to Thursday during the schools’ six-week summer holiday.
Fan favourite Alison, and Dermot impressed both viewers and ITV bosses when they covered for main hosts Holly and Phillip in the summer.
News of the This Morning line-up comes just five months after This Morning editor Martin Frizell told staff that he was planning to hire a black presenter.
Longtime team member: Alison has been a longtime member of the This Morning team, growing increasingly popular while presenting segments on the show
During a video conference with staff in June, he said: ‘There is not a black presenter on any of the programmes today. We plan to change that, we [This Morning] are looking into that.’
But Eamonn and Ruth were said to be ‘disappointed and devastated’ by the big news, as they have ‘loved’ their stint presenting on This Morning.
Earlier this month, a This Morning source said: ‘Ruth and Eamonn have been part of the show for 14 years and being told they are no longer wanted has been very sad and disappointing for them.
‘They love it and the viewers love them, but times are changing on the show and they have been the victims.’
Claims: Eamonn and Ruth were said to be ‘disappointed and devastated’ by the big news, as they have ‘loved’ their stint presenting on This Morning (Alison and Dermot pictured)