Eamonn’s son Declan said the family is taking it ‘one step at a time’
Eamonn Holmes is “doing okay given the circumstances” after he suffered a stroke, his eldest son Declan has said. Declan Holmes added his father’s medical issue “came as a real shock”, and he thanked those who have sent messages of support, saying: “It means a lot to us as a family.”
GB News announced on Saturday that Holmes, 66, had suffered a stroke last week and was recovering in hospital. In a statement on Sunday, his son said: “What happened came as a real shock, but dad is doing okay given the circumstances and we’re taking it one step at a time.
“I just wanted to share a quick message to say we hugely appreciate all the messages, it means a lot to us as a family. For now, we’re focused on him and keeping things steady around him. We’d really value a bit of privacy as we navigate it, and what lies ahead, but thank-you again for the support as it means so much to dad and the rest of the family.”
Alex Armstrong will present in his absence this week, the broadcaster added. Holmes, from Northern Ireland, who presents GB News Breakfast with his co-host Ellie Costello, is Britain’s longest-serving breakfast news presenter, with a career spanning more than 40 years.
Before joining GB News in 2022, he anchored GMTV between 1993 and 2005, Sky News Sunrise between 2005 and 2016, and co-presented ITV’s This Morning from 2006 to 2021. Angelos Frangopoulos, chief executive of GB News, said on Saturday: “Eamonn is a loved member of the GB News family, and we’re with him every step of the way as he recovers.”
Holmes has long battled health issues after dislodging discs in his back which he said previously impinged on his sciatic nerve and affected the mobility of his right leg. He previously spoke about going through spinal surgery, a double hip replacement, and his struggles walking and using a mobility scooter.
Holmes had two falls in May last year which seem to have taken place only weeks apart. The former This Morning host was taken to hospital after a first fall at his home, then fell from his chair live on-air.
Symptoms of stroke
- Face weakness – it might be hard to smile, and one side of your face may droop
- Arm weakness – you may not be able to fully lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm
- Speech problems – you may slur your words or sound confused
- Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your body (including in your leg)
- Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
- Sudden difficulty speaking or thinking of words Sudden memory loss or confusion
- Sudden severe headache
- Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall, especially with any of the other signs
