A REPORT has claimed that Eamonn Holmes is set to leave his role as host of This Morning and join the GB News television channel.
The Belfast man has hosted the popular magazine show for 15 years alongside wife Ruth Langsford.
However the Mirror reports that Holmes is set to swap his holiday slot on ITV to host his own show several times a week on the new channel.
Twitter hint
While Holmes has yet to confirm the reports, he did welcome the channel on its launch night in June, tweeting that he hoped it would "keep all the other News providers on their toes".
"I have huge respect for TV news but this is a reminder that News is not just Westminster or a constant woke agenda," he added.
On Friday, Holmes also appeared to like a tweet from former talkRADIO colleague and GB News contributor Dawn Neesom welcoming him to the channel, although the 'like' has since been removed.
@EamonnHolmes joining @GBNEWS. Wow. So looking forward to working with my lovely, kind & incredibly supportive former @talkRADIO colleague again. ☺️ pic.twitter.com/5DgoXo5Idr
— Dawn Neesom (@DawnNeesom) November 12, 2021
Should a move materialise, it could prove a coup for the nascent channel, which has struggled somewhat since its launch.
Holmes' genial demeanour and direct but down-to-earth style could both win over existing viewers and attract new ones.
The change in style from This Morning would also pose little difficulty for a presenter as versatile as Holmes, who has also worked in news, sport and light entertainment in the past.
Difficulties
Launched in June, GB News faced early setbacks, including technical difficulties and the swift departure of chairman and presenter Andrew Neil.
Some companies also withdraw or suspended their advertising on the channel following a campaign by the group Stop Funding Hate.
The channel — whose hosts include controversial former UKIP politician Nigel Farage and former Sun executive editor Dan Wootton — has been described as right leaning.
Meanwhile in July, presenter Guto Harri quit following his suspension for taking a knee live on air in support of England’s footballers.
While ratings have since improved, Broadcast reported in September that the channel had lost 60 per cent of its viewers since its launch.
