This Morning’s Ruth Langsford returns after missing last week’s show due to illness

She missed last Friday’s show due to illness and Rochelle Humes had to step in.

However Ruth Langsford ensured she made her return to the This Morning sofa on Friday alongside her husband Eamonn Holmes, just days after her 60th birthday.

The TV presenter, who turned 60 on March 17, was presented with a huge cake however Eamonn admitted most of her celebrations had to be cancelled.      

The couple discussed their scuppered plans and Eamonn said: ‘We had a big week planned for your big birthday week, but because of coronavirus we have had to cancel it all.

‘I booked for us to go to Italy, so that was a mistake wasn’t it.

During her absence last week, Eamonn confirmed that Ruth wasn’t suffering from coronavirus when viewers questioned if she had come down with the virus. 

The host went on to insist that people stay indoors and watch the morning TV show, while Ruth said she hoped the couple would bring them some ‘light relief’.

Although Ruth’s trip to Italy was cancelled due to the pandemic, she was still treated to a performance of Happy Birthday by The Shires as a surprise from Eamonn.

Ruth and Eamonn present This Morning’s Friday show, while the rest of the week is host by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

The show has being going live as normal amid the COVID-19 crisis but the hosts revealed they were operating with a pared back crew and admitted they are ‘holding on by the skin of our teeth.’

On Wednesday, the stripped back crew included minimal camera operators and a reduced hair and makeup team, as guest Matthew Wright revealed he had to do his own makeup.

Matthew took part in the news review segment at the opening of the show with Anneka Rice and joked about his lack of makeup skills, before Phillip admitted the minimal staff rule also applied to the camera crew.  

‘I think the most important thing personally is that we have some kind of current affairs transmissions going on,’ said Matthew.  

‘I mean I can’t imagine no This Morning even though I’m aware that the staffing has been scaled right back. We do our own makeup, things are changing.’

‘The idea that we’d have no window on the world, I mean you guys have got to be here.’ 

Discussing the recent shutdown on BBC productions including EastEnders and Casualty, Phil warned:

‘It’s bound to happen. We’re all holding on by the skin of our teeth.’

Later in the programme, Phil and Holly had to make do with the lack of cameras during a round of their popular Spin To Win game.

After joking that she wasn’t getting her closeups during the segment, Phil pointed out ‘we’re on limited cameras,’ before the cameraman moved from Phil to Holly.

‘You’ve got it now,’ Phil remarked as Holly gave a flirty wave. ‘I’ll jump in yours as well,’ she told her co-host.

‘That camera’s mine you keep out of it!’ replied Phil only for Holly to playfully block his shot.