Eamonn Holmes has reportedly claimed that online trolls were plotting to get him sacked, hours before reports surfaced that he and Ruth Langsford were being dropped from This Morning.
Speaking to his fans on a Belfast Live Facebook group, the broadcaster, 60, revealed that it was ‘stressful’ knowing that trolls were able to ‘get you sacked’ on ‘live TV,’ according to the Daily Mirror.
It’s thought Eamonn made the comments just a day before reports surfaced that he and wife Ruth, 60, were being dropped from This Morning following a huge shake-up by ITV bosses, with pair being replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.
Trolling: Eamonn Holmes has reportedly claimed that trolls plotted to get him sacked, before reports surfaced that he and Ruth Langsford, both 60, were being dropped from This Morning
Eamonn said: ‘People say it’s water off a duck’s back but people wake up and they know they can get you sacked… that’s the thing about live TV. It can be very stressful.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Eamonn Holmes for comment.
His comments came shortly before it was reported that he had been dropped from This Morning alongside his wife Ruth who have both presented the show for 14 years.
Alison Hammond, 45, and Dermot O’Leary, 47, will be taking over the married couple’s long-time presenting roles on the popular ITV chat show.
In recent weeks, Eamonn has being telling friends of his fear that he is too ‘pale, stale and male’ for the ITV show, which has gained criticism for not being diverse enough.
Brand new faces: This Morning’s first black host Alison Hammond, 45, and Dermot O’Leary, 47, will be taking over the married couple’s presenting roles
Eamonn and Ruth were said to be ‘disappointed and devastated’ by the latest news, as they have ‘loved’ their stint presenting on This Morning.
The duo will continue to host the ITV show from Monday to Thursday during the schools’ six-week summer holiday.
Fern Britton, 63, who hosted the popular daytime show between 1999 and 2009, took to Twitter after hearing the big news and said ‘Oh no?’.
But the presenter also tweeted: ‘That doesn’t take away from the fact Alison Hammond is a superstar who deserves the world.
‘Overlooked for far too long by ITV, this is her moment.’
Coming back: Eamonn and Ruth, who are ‘disappointed and devastated’ by the news, will host the ITV show from Monday to Thursday during the schools’ six-week summer holiday
News of the new line-up comes just five months after This Morning editor Martin Frizell told staff that he was planning to hire a black presenter.
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.’
Alison, who first appeared on screen as a contestant in Big Brother, and Dermot, impressed both viewers and ITV bosses when they covered for main hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in the summer.
And Eammon and Ruth have been assured that they remain ‘part of the This Morning family’ and will likely be asked to cover when other presenters are on holiday.
On Saturday night, 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.’
Talented: Alison, who first appeared on TV as a Big Brother contestant, and Dermot, impressed when they covered for main hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in the summer