Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes made thinly-veiled digs about killing people and a ‘frosty atmosphere’ during their This Morning hosting duties on Friday – amid the drama caused by their axing from the show.
Ruth and her husband Eamonn, both 60, are being replaced on This Morning’s Friday show by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary at some point in the near future – with the pair said to be ‘disappointed and devastated’ by the news.
As the presenting duo returned to the show for the first time since the shake-up, it seemed the axing was very much fresh on their minds as Eamonn asked his guests if they had ‘ever felt like murdering everybody’ with Ruth agreeing that she had.
Oh dear: Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes made thinly-veiled digs about killing people and a ‘frosty atmosphere’ during their This Morning hosting duties on Friday – amid the drama caused by their axing from the show
After interviewing Richard Osman, a vitriolic Eamonn said: ‘Do you ever feel like murdering everybody?
‘I’m thinking of a Friday murder club. A weekend murder club. Does the urge never take you?
Ruth quickly responded: ‘Oh maybe right now’ with Eamonn looking away from the camera whimsically.
Earlier in the show, the pair had made pointed digs about the ‘chilly’ and ‘frosty’ atmosphere.
New guard: Ruth and her husband Eamonn, both 60, are being replaced on This Morning’s Friday show by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary at some point in the near future
Eamonn said: ‘Good morning, it’s Eamonn and Ruth and a chilly morning it was today’ with Ruth adding: ‘Frost’.
Eamonn continued: ‘Jack Frost had already been there when I poked my nose out this morning’ before Ruth said: ‘It was very frosty wasn’t it?’
The presenter said that his and Ruth’s cars were covered in a layer of snow, which Ruth added was ‘pretty but nippy.’
Eamonn added: You have this habit of when we get up in the morning you open all the doors and windows, it was pure freezing!’
Comment: After interviewing Richard Osman, a vitriolic Eamonn said: ‘Do you ever feel like murdering everybody? ‘I’m thinking of a Friday murder club… Does the urge never take you?’
Elsewhere in the episode, the couple interviewed two elderly women who reunited in a care home after 70 years apart.
Eamonn suggested setting up a care home with friends so acquaintances could hang out in lockdown – with the star later revealing his celebrity friends such as Linda Lusardi had given the idea their approval.
Friday’s show marked the first time the pair had appeared on This Morning amid the ongoing drama caused by their replacement on the programme after 14 years.
Amid the fall-out, Ruth’s replacement Alison complimented the longtime This Morning host by calling her a ‘beauty’ on Instagram.
Ruth shared a stunning snap of herself in a blue v-neck jumper decorated with leopard-print stars, prompting the friendly response from the TV personality, 45.
Alison, who first appeared on screen as a contestant in Big Brother, wrote alongside Ruth’s post: ‘What a beauty [heart emoji]’
But it does not appear that the compliment has received a public response from Ruth, who has seemingly not yet liked or replied to the comment.
Alison had to interact with Ruth on Wednesday’s show – the first encounter between the two women since it was revealed the former was being replaced with the latter.
And viewers took to social media afterwards to brand it a tad ‘awkward’.
Chilly reception: Ruth quickly responded: ‘Oh maybe right now’ with Eamonn looking away from the camera whimsically
Alison was co-hosting the show with Phillip Schofield, having to do a live link to the Loose Women studio – another show Ruth presents.
As they did, Ruth said hello to Phil, but seemingly snubbed Alison – not mentioning her at all. Alison merely waved, quietly, as she watched on.
Reactions from Twitter included one person remarking: ‘Ruth speaking to Phil and ignoring Alison on this morning. Awkward!’
Another posted: ‘Slightly awkward that Alison is presenting #ThisMorning today and then Ruth pops up on Loose Women!’
Someone else branded it ‘drama’, as others re-voiced their feelings about the presenting shake-up.
Frosty: Earlier in the show, the pair had made pointed digs about the ‘chilly’ and ‘frosty’ atmosphere
One suggested Phil and usual co-star Holly Willoughby should be axed, while someone else claimed Alison could stay but Dermot was a poor choice.
Ruth returned to Loose Women for the first time since she and her husband Eamonn Holmes were dropped from their Friday slot on Tuesday morning.
The broadcaster failed to mention the reported axe as she led the show alongside journalist Jane Moore, presenter Janet Street-Porter and singer Brenda Edwards, who appeared on the panel from home.
Hosts Ruth and Eamonn are believed to be ‘furious and upset’ by their exit from the daytime series as they make way for its first permanent black presenter Alison and X Factor’s Dermot.
The TV star recently spoke about grafting for her This Morning roles and finding fame without being on a reality show.
Ruth told the Mirror’s Notebook magazine that she and Eamonn had put the ‘work in’ to get to where they are today, in an interview given in early October prior to the news breaking.
Back to business: Elsewhere in the episode, the couple interviewed two elderly women who reunited in a care home after 70 years apart
Ruth said: ‘We’ve put the work in. We didn’t do a reality show and get an overnight job on the telly. We’ve come up through the ranks.
‘Eamonn was only 19 when he started out. And he was doing the teatime news in Belfast during The Troubles. It was heavy stuff. And he’s now got an OBE for services to broadcasting.’
The TV stars were unaware they were being dropped, and had recently brushed off axe rumours.
On Monday, Alison announced that she’s landed her own podcast, tweeting: ‘Guess what? @ITV have given me my very own podcast – My Life In TV.’
‘I’ll delve into the fave telly moments & memories of famous faces including [Emily Atack, Joel Dommett, AJ Odudu, Mo Gilligan, and Olivia Attwood].’
High praise: Alison Hammond complimented longtime This Morning host Ruth by calling her a ‘beauty’ on Instagram
Alison and Dermot will be taking over Eamonn and Ruth’s long-time presenting roles on the popular ITV chat show – a role they previously held for 14 years.
Alison shot to fame as a contestant on Big Brother in 2002 and has since forged a hugely successful television career.
This comes after Eamonn reportedly claimed that online trolls were plotting to get him sacked, hours before reports surfaced that he and Ruth were being dropped from This Morning.
Speaking to his fans on a Belfast Live Facebook group, the broadcaster 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 were being dropped from This Morning.
Compliments: Alison responded to the post after it was shared on Thursday
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.’
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.
Eamonn and Ruth were said to be ‘disappointed and devastated’ by the latest news, as they have ‘loved’ their stint presenting on This Morning.
Face-to-face: Ruth and Alison made headlines earlier this week as the pair had to interact on Wednesday’s show – their first encounter since the replacement news was announced
‘Awkward’: Alison, 45, was co-hosting the show with Phillip Schofield, having to do a live link to the Loose Women studio – another show Ruth presents
Reactions from Twitter included one person remarking: ‘Ruth speaking to Phil and ignoring Alison on this morning. Awkward!’
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.’
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.’
Beloved: Fan-favourite Alison, and Dermot, 47, impressed both viewers and ITV bosses when they covered for main hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in the summer