Eamonn Holmes launched into an extraordinary tirade against Meghan Markle on Talk Radio on Thursday.
The 60-year-old called her ‘awful, woke, weak, manipulative spoilt and irritating’ and said he didn’t think he would like her in real life, despite admitting he has never met her in person.
He said: ‘She is playing the role of her life. I just find her incredibly irritating.’
‘She’s awful, woke, weak, manipulative spoilt and irritating’: Eamonn Holmes said on Talk Radio on Thursday that he has no sympathy for Meghan Markle
Speaking to journalist Dawn Nesom on the phone, Eamonn didn’t hold back on sharing his views surrounding Meghan.
She said: ‘They should just leave now, drop the titles, we pay them no more and they disappear and live the life they choose, and I don’t care if we don’t see or hear from them again.’
Ending the call Eamonn said: ‘I agree with you especially in America where they’ll all love this and they’ll be gormlessly looking at her and she’s playing the role of her life.
His co-host said: ‘I’ve never met her…
Dramatic: The broadcaster shared his views on The Duchess following her and Prince Harry’s announcing that they will be stepping back from their royal duties
Irate: Eamonn claimed that he thinks Meghan has been ‘mollycoddled’ during her career as an actress, and branded her ‘a manipulator and controller’
Eamonn then replied: ‘I’ve never met her either but I look at her and I think ”I don’t think I would like you in real life.”
‘You are just that awful, woke, weak, manipulative, spoilt. What I have met is lots of people in TV series from America who are mollycoddled beyond belief with PR people around them.
‘Maybe she’s just somewhat spoilt. They may both be somewhat damaged, but she is a manipulator, she is a controller, you mark my words.’
Savage: He told his co-host: ‘I’ve never met her either but I look at her and I think I don’t think I would like you in real life’
Announcement: Harry and Meghan released this statement on Wednesday announcing that they plan to ‘step back’ as senior members of The Royal Family
The comment earned a split reaction from listeners, and many took to Twitter to share their outraged reaction.
One posted: ‘Eamonn Holmes: ”I’ve never met Meghan but I look at her and think ”I don’t think I’d like you in real life.”
‘Me: ”I’ve never met Eamonn Holmes but I look at him and think ”my god you’re an almighty c**t.”’
Another posted: ‘I’ve never met Eamonn Holmes but I look at him and think he’s an overweight, precious, judgemental and almighty bore.’
‘I think the same about you… In fact my whole family do… Dreadful man you are,’ a third posted.
Angry: The comment earned a split reaction from listeners, and many took to Twitter to share their outraged reaction
However some viewers threw their support behind Eamonn, with one posting: ‘Well said Eamonn! Only echoing what many think – and no I’m not racist.’
Another tweeted: ‘Blimey I might start listening to Eamonn from now on, he’s on the money!’
A third also posted: ‘Spot on Eamonn, she has turned Harry into Tony Blair, out to make a fortune on the back of position!’
One fan wrote: ‘She treated her Dad in a very cold and manipulating way. Her career is a master class in cultivation of only those who can raise her star. Curated so skilfully it’s second nature to her.
‘She’s been fully exposed in the UK and can’t deal with it. Poor H where will it all end?’
Supportive: However some viewers threw their support behind Eamonn, and shared tweets stating their agreement with the broadcaster
Eamonn’s words came just two months after he was reprimanded by ITV for calling Meghan ‘uppity’ – a word which used to be used to insult black people.
It followed a complaint from a viewer after Holmes discussed an incident in which security personnel tried to stop tennis fans taking photos of the Duchess of Sussex at Wimbledon.
The TV host said: ‘If you have an uppity attitude, you’re only through the door two minutes and suddenly you’re sitting at Wimbledon and your royal protection are saying, ”No photographs, no photographs!”
The viewer complained to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, saying the word was racist, and also wrote to the TV network’s Head of Diversity, Ade Rawcliffe.
Bombshell: Eamonn’s words came just two months after he was reprimanded by ITV for calling Meghan ‘uppity’ – a word which used to be used to insult black people
Holmes wasn’t aware of the word’s historical context and ITV defended the presenter, finding that his use of it had not been scripted, that the meaning of the word and its connotations had been explained to him, and that it wouldn’t be used in future.
According to sources at ITV, Eamonn was made fully aware of the word’s meaning and has promised not to use it again.
A spokesperson for the network later denied claims that the use of the word had been completely banned.
Dark: According to sources at ITV, Holmes was made fully aware of the word’s meaning and has promised not to use it again (pictured hosting Friday’s This Morning)
Just hours after his radio appearance, Eamonn also addressed the ‘royal retirement’ in lighter fashion, as he and his wife Ruth Langsford said they wanted to offer the couple a ‘job’ in their big to be financially independent.
The pair introduced Harry and Meghan lookalikes to the set holding cups of tea, and sent them backstage to complete a variety of chores.
During the segment Eamonn told Ruth: ‘Whether they could become commoners we will see, you [Ruth] could be royal though!’
Cheeky: Just hours after his radio appearance, Eamonn also addressed the ‘royal retirement’ in lighter fashion using lookalikes of the royal couple
Eamonn’s words come after The Duke and Duchess Of Sussex made their bombshell announcement that they were stepping back from their duties as ‘senior members’ of The Royal Family.
‘After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,’ they began in their statement.
‘We intend to step back as “senior” members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,’ they added.
‘It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment,’ they said.
Next move: Harry and Meghan also announced they plan to split living between North America and the UK, after briefly returning to London from their six week break to Canada
The royal couple’s official titles are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and they have trademarked the brand Sussex Royal, which has generated predicted revenues of $500 million.
Harry and Meghan will also remove themselves, at least in part, from their British social circles in order to focus on putting down roots in their new home, where they will be much closer to their posse of A-list pals.
It is the latest in a string of steps that has reportedly pulled Harry away from his former close-knit circle of friends, including Guy Pelly and Tom and Lara Inskip.
Reports have emerged over recent years that suggest Harry and Meghan have slowly weakened ties with the prince’s old crowd of drinking buddies as they drew closer to the likes of Serena Williams and George and Amal Clooney.
The Queen was ‘deeply disappointed’ and ‘hurt’ by the release of the statement, and had begged them to delay announcing their ‘nuclear’ plans.
In a terse statement in response, Buckingham Palace said it understood Meghan and Harry’s desire to do things ‘different’ but stressed these were complicated matters that needed to be worked through carefully.
Gone: A spokesperson has now confirmed that Meghan has returned to Canada to be with her son Archie, amid claims that Harry has been in ‘crisis talks’ with The Queen
The Daily Mail then revealed on Thursday night that Meghan has flown out of London and back to Canada to reunite with son Archie, eight months, who was being cared for by a nanny.
Sources have also told the Mail that after an emotional 12 hours, matters had calmed and everyone was ‘working with a clear head’.
‘One of the things the family has learnt over the years is that if you don’t move quickly and leave things like this that the fester,’ said a source.
‘And that would benefit no-one in this case.’
It is understood the Queen initiated the series of calls involving herself at Sandringham, Charles at Birkhall (his Scottish seat), William at Kensington Palace and Harry – without Meghan – at Frogmore Cottage.
Prince Charles and Prince William only got a copy of the statement ten minutes before it went live on their secretly developed website sussexroyal.com.
Stunned: The Queen was ‘deeply disappointed’ and ‘hurt’ by the release of the statement, and had begged them to delay announcing their ‘nuclear’ plans (pictured in July 2018)