Eamonn Holmes has said his biggest achievement is ‘surviving’ the TV industry for the past 41 years.
The TV veteran, 61, who started his career as a farming reporter on Ulster Television in 1979, said getting on the industry’s ‘conveyor belt’ was hard, but staying on it is much harder.
He said on Eamonn Mallie: Face to Face with Eamonn Holmes on Wednesday: ‘The art of television is surviving. People say, “what’s your biggest achievement?” and it’s actually staying the course for 41 years.
Accomplishment: Eamonn Holmes has said his biggest achievement is ‘surviving’ the TV industry for the past 41 years
‘It’s getting on the conveyor belt, that’s tough but staying on the conveyor belt is much tougher.
‘I still have the appetite, I still am as enthusiastic as I’ve ever been. I should have been warned it would all be over so quickly.’
Reflecting on his career which spans four decades, he also revealed his one regret.
Eamonn said: ‘If I have one regret, I’ve always been very responsible.
Throwback: The TV veteran, 61, who started his career as a farming reporter on Ulster Television in 1979, said getting on the industry’s ‘conveyor belt’ was hard, but staying on it is much harder
‘When I joined UTV, the head of programmes Derek Murray said to me, “listen, keep your feet on the ground” and my parents said “keep your feet on the ground” everywhere I turn people in Northern Ireland say “don’t be getting too big for your boots”.
‘I think if I did it again I’d love to get too big for my boots and I’d love to really enjoy the ride much more. It’s all gone so quickly.’
The TV host presented GMTV between 1993 and 2005 before becoming an anchor on the Sky News breakfast programme from 2005 to 2016.
He then went on to host This Morning with his wife Ruth Langsford, 61, but was replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary on Friday’s morning episode.
While discussing other TV presenters, he admitted their friendly on-camera demeanours don’t always match their off-camera personalities.
He added: ‘A lot of people take on a persona and you just have no idea who they are and they are quite false.’
Eamonn surprised This Morning fans earlier this month when he revealed he was going to be a granddad after cryptically teasing he had a ‘personal’ announcement to make.
The Irish presenter’s son Declan, 32, who he shares with ex-wife Gabrielle, is expecting his first child with his wife Jenny in July.
While it was happy news, many fans had feared the presenter had been about to reveal something about his health after he has been detailing his chronic pain battle while awaiting a diagnosis following an MRI scan on his back.
Surprised: Eamonn Holmes surprised This Morning fans on Wednesday when he revealed he was going to be a grandad after cryptically teasing he had a ‘personal’ announcement to make
Prior to his announcement, Eamonn had cryptically said he didn’t want people to be ‘upset’ but ‘happy’ over the news following a ‘tough week’.
One person tweeted: ‘Not very impressed with Eamonn Holmes leading everyone on to think he’s poorly or something only to then announce he’s going to be a Grandad? Badly worded lead up #ThisMorning.’
While others were left delighted over the happy news as they rushed to social media to congratulate Eamonn.
The presenter admitted he had been ‘in tears’ over the news after a ‘tough’ week, he said: ‘There’s something I want to talk to you about today, it’s been a tough year for so many people and there’s not much good news around.
Family: The Irish presenter’s, 61, son Declan, 32, who he shares with ex-wife Gabrielle, is expecting his first child with his wife Jenny in July (Declan and Jenny pictured)
‘I’ve been having a very tough week… Ruth, tell everyone how tough my week’s been?’
To which his wife and co-host Ruth, who he married in 2010 and shares other son Jack, 19, with, said: ‘It has been very tough… it has. He’s in a lot of pain!’
Eamonn continued: ‘It hasn’t been a good time and I’ve been in tears and I’ve been in tears again as these two people here [a photo was shown of his son and his wife] they are called Declan and Jenny, the clue is… their surname is Holmes.
‘Declan is my eldest boy, he’s 32 years of age, and that is Jenny his beloved wife and they have just announced that I – together with Valerie and Robin [Jenny’s parents] and Gabrielle [Declan’s mother] we are all going to be grandparents!’
The presenter added: ‘It’s very good. We’re very happy.’
Surprised: Viewers were left surprised over the news as they had been led to believe that it could be to do with Eamonn’s condition and results, which he has been candidly discussing on the show this week
Statement: Prior to his announcement, Eamonn had cryptically said he didn’t want people to be ‘upset’ but ‘happy’ over the news following a ‘tough week’