Eamonn Holmes has been sending mixed messages to ex Ruth Langsford, a relationship expert has claimed.

The showbiz couple, who previously hosted ITV’s This Morning together, announced their shock split in May after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together in total.

GB News host Eamonn, who yesterday walked out of his programme live on air after falling ill, opened up for the first time about his divorce last week, admitting: “I’m not OK.

This is not a good time at all.”

Analysing his remarks at the TRIC Awards, where he was nominated in the Best News Presenter category as well as Best News Broadcast.

A relationship expert has said there is ‘conflict’ with Eamonn’s remarks in the wake of his divorce.

Psychologist Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley claims Eamonn could be using an ’emotional appeal’ to Ruth as a guilt-tripping exercise or a cry for help.

However the 64-year-old presenter has now been spotted with his new friend, Katie Alexander, who was seen driving Eamonn around in her black Range Rover after it was claimed she had been staying with him in his apartment. The 42-year-old was said to be “in love” with the GB News host but insists she’s not a home wrecker.

The pair initially met via social media back in 2015 and they have enjoyed a string of outings together, including a trip to Ireland, a Beyoncé concert and a Manchester United game. It’s believed that Katie is “in it for the long haul” when it comes to her bond with Eamonn, with sources claiming she hopes their friendship could blossom into a long-term relationship.

Sources told the Mirror that since the news of Ruth and Eamonn’s divorce, his bond with Katie has gone from strength to strength. Yet it appears Eamonn wants to be on good terms with his ex, as when probed about their split, he told the Mirror: “It’s too early to say but I hope we can still be friends.”

Struggling with chronic back pain, which saw him require a high-tech wheelchair at the ceremony, he even admitted feeling as if he is on “borrowed time”. Dr Goddard-Crawley told the Mirror: “I find myself experiencing a sense of conflict regarding Eamonn Holmes’ recent statements. This conflict arises from my perception of his actions as potentially manipulative, yet also as a cry for help.

“I would interpret this as indicative of Eamonn’s own internal struggle with his motivations. His drive to reach out publicly and express his vulnerability suggests a deeper conflict between a desire for sympathy and a genuine need for emotional support. This duality in his actions could reflect his own uncertainty about his intentions and emotional needs.”

Suggesting his comments could be perceived as a form of guilt-tripping, she continued: “This perspective suggests that Eamonn is using emotional appeals to evoke sympathy from Ruth and the public, potentially making Ruth feel responsible for his distress. His hope that they can remain friends might place pressure on Ruth to maintain a relationship, complicating her ability to move on.

“Publicly discussing his personal struggles adds another layer of complexity. This public disclosure could be seen as an attempt to garner support and sympathy from the audience, indirectly influencing Ruth’s image and increasing the emotional burden on her.”

On the other hand, Eamonn’s statements could be viewed as expressions of genuine vulnerability and honesty, the expert claims. “His openness about his emotional and physical struggles might be his way of managing public curiosity and speculation, rather than a manipulative tactic,” Dr Goddard-Crawley explained.

“The desire to remain friends could stem from a sincere wish to keep their relationship amicable, which would be beneficial for both parties given their professional overlap and public presence. Discussing his health issues and sense of being on ‘borrowed time’ might be more about his own existential reflections and less about influencing Ruth’s feelings, providing context for his current emotional state.”

Summing up the comments, the psychologist added that ‘projection’ could be at play, with Eammon opening up about his inner turmoil into an external situation, in a bid to seek validation and support. “The hope to remain friends could indicate a form of emotional dependency, highlighting his struggle to cope with the separation and maintain a connection for emotional security,” she said.

“His public declarations might also function in helping him deal with feelings of abandonment or rejection by garnering empathy from others.

I would say that his actions most likely stem from an interplay of emotional needs and coping. It is important to understand the pain we experience as humans from separation and loss.

“It is one of the hardest things for us to deal with, so in a way, it is helpful for us to validate the expression of his needs. The question that remains is whether Ruth needs to be the one validating them or if perhaps a close friend or therapist should be.”

When he accepted an award on stage with his GB News colleagues at the glitzy do last Tuesday, Eamonn was further propelled into hot water when he looked to have made a barbed dig at Ruth.

In his acceptance speech, he said: “I got two things in my back that I didn’t want,” which was taken to mean an operation for his chronic pain and Ruth.

Reports emerged that Ruth, who has been keeping a low profile since the break-up was ‘hurt’ by the supposed jibe, with a source telling MailOnline: “Ruth took Eamonn’s words as a dig at her. She found it unfair and hurtful,” adding that “friends are worried this is going to get very nasty.”

However it was later clarified that his quipped wasn’t aimed at his ex. A spokesperson for Eamonn told The Mirror: “Eamonn’s comments had nothing to do with anything other than the two pins in his back after his surgeries.” In the weeks since announcing their split, Ruth has been seen still wearing her glistening engagement and wedding rings.

Eamonn has moved out of their home and into a “small flat near a roundabout,” from which he is chauffeured to and from the GB News studios in Paddington, West London due to his ongoing mobility issues. Friends say they are concerned for the 64-year-old, claiming he’s now living a ‘pretty solitary existence.’

A source told The Daily Mail: “It’s all a rather sorry affair. It was only a few months ago he was living in his lovely family home with Ruth. Yes, they were troubled, but she was caring for him and he had some kind of normality.

Now, he is alone in a flat living a pretty solitary existence. His marriage ending after such a long time has been something he has found difficult to accept.”