Petition begins to ‘bring back Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford’ as ITV does not deny axing them

It follows widespread reports that Eamonn Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford, who routinely present the end-of-week edition, are going to be dropped from the show.

As of Monday afternoon there had been no reaction from the pair on social media.

When the News Letter asked ITV whether the rumours were true, its response was this: “We have a stellar presenting line up on This Morning in Holly & Phillip and Eamonn & Ruth. Any additions to this line up will be announced in due course.”

The reference to Holly and Phillip is to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, the presenters who have the helm earlier in the week.

Mr Holmes and Ms Langsford have been with the show since 2006.

It has been reported that they will be replaced with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary – two co-presenters who also have roles on ‘This Morning’.

Now a petition has been set up at online campaign site Change.org.

Titled “BRING BACK EAMONN AND RUTH”, it appears not to have been widely circulated online.

It began two days ago but had only got a tenth of the way towards its modest aim of 100 signatures at time of writing; anyone wishing to sign it can do so at this link: rb.gy/wgjj3r

The founder of it, Ella Abraham, said: “Together, they have been loyalty presenting the breakfast show for 16 years and brighten up the days of millions all over the UK. Many are outraged that they have been removed from their slot and believe the show can’t be the same without their close bond and humour.”

COULD IT BE LINKED TO 5G FLAK?:

A number of people on Twitter have speculated about possible motives for the duo’s removal.

Mr Holmes drew flak earlier this year after he make remarks about a campaign which claims that 5G mobile phone signals are a serious danger to humans.

Mr Holmes said: “What I don’t accept is mainstream media immediately slapping that down as not true when they don’t know it’s not true.

“No-one should attack or damage or do anything like that but it’s very easy to say it is not true because it suits the state narrative.

“That’s all I would say, as someone with an inquiring mind.”

He later said: “It’s not true and there is no connection between the present national health emergency and 5G and to suggest otherwise would be wrong and indeed it could be possibly dangerous.

“Every theory relating to such a connection has been proven to be false and we would like to emphasise that.”

A number of individuals online wondered if any pending replacement was linked to ITV’s declared commitment to increase the presence of minority ethnic figures on the channel (Alison Hammond is a Birmingham-born black woman).

Ms Hammond is presenting a new podcast via ITV called ‘My Life in TV’ – launched today (and described by the network as “a nostalgic series of in-depth interviews with some of ITV’s most familiar faces about their love affair with telly”).

‘ACCELERATE INCLUSION’:

In July ITV had unveiled what it called a “Diversity Acceleration Plan”.

This was “to accelerate change in diversity and inclusion on screen and across ITV by creating more opportunities for those from Black, Asian, minority ethnic and other underrepresented groups”.

It would “ensure ITV better represents contemporary British life on screen within the next 12 months”.

Among other things, it entailed “mandatory race and inclusion training for all staff and on-screen presenters and commentators”.

(Many other companies, including the BBC, announced similar projects after the death of George Floyd during his detention by police on a Minnesota street on May 25).

However, ITV’s “Diversity Acceleration Plan” appears to be somewhat undermined by the company’s own figures.

According to ITV “currently around 22% of those seen on ITV come from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background”.

The network has also said that “within ITV 12.5% of our people identify as having a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background”.

According to the 2011 government census (the most recent one), “87% of people in the UK are White, and 13% belong to a Black, Asian, Mixed or Other ethnic group”.

ITV was asked if the ages of Mr Holmes and Ms Langsford – both 60 – was a factor in any decision-making (their mooted replacements are both in their mid-40s).

It was also asked whether ITV’s July diversity pledge were a factor.

Lastly, it was asked about the contrast between its figures which suggest a current over-represenatation of ethnic minority individuals on-screen, and its pledge to “accelerate inclusion”.

It said: “We have nothing further to add at this stage.”

READ MORE FROM THIS REPORTER:

CLICK HERE: Widow of Stephen Carroll speaks out after Channel 4 News gives platform to his killer

Click here: Triple tragedy in one family should serve as warning to Covid ‘conspiracy theorists’

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor