Eamonn and Ruth fear 'This Morning' axe
This Morning presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford have said they fear getting the chop from This Morning as ITV chiefs try to save money. The pair, who got engaged earlier this year, co-host the show on Friday mornings - but The Sun reports they have yet to received contracts for the next series which begins in September. And bosses were unable to reassure them at a meeting this week that their jobs were safe. "Eamonn and Ruth are really worried they are the next stars facing the axe," a source told the paper. "They love presenting the show and have great chemistry on air. But Eamonn in particular is expensive and he is worried they can no longer afford him." The pair have received support from staff on the programme since the meeting. "Everyone wants them to stay - it will be a sad day if they leave," a show insider said. Ruth had been tipped to take over from Fern Britton when she leaves the show in July, but was not offered the permanent role. The paper reports that Phillip Schofield has asked show chiefs to replace her with his Dancing On Ice co-presenter Holly Willoughby - saying she is the only person he can work with. "Holly would be a great addition," the insider added, "but it would be a huge commitment for her."
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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.
An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.