Eamonn Holmes shared his graтιтude and opened up on his ‘tough year’ as he attended his first event with new girlfriend this week. 

The TV star, 64, has been dating counsellor Katie Alexander, 43, since his split from Ruth Langsford and had her by his side as he hosted the Irish Post Awards in London on Thursday. 

Eamonn has battled many health woes this year and recently revealed he ‘can no longer walk or look after himself.’ 

After surgery on his back in 2022 for a slipped disc, the GB News host has not been able to walk unaided and often relies on a wheelchair.  

Speaking at the event Eamonn admitted he was glad to see the end of 2024, while being supported by his girlfriend. 

Eamonn Holmes shared his graтιтude and opened up on his ‘tough year’ as he attended his first event with new girlfriend this week

The TV star, 64, has been dating counsellor Katie Alexander, 43, since his split from Ruth Langsford and had her by his side as he hosted the Irish Post Awards in London on Thursday

Speaking to The Sun On Sunday, he said: ‘It’s been a tough year and I’ll be glad to see the back of it.

‘But there are lots of things to be grateful for and I hope that my health improves next year.’

Eammon and Katie made their first appearance as a couple at The Irish Post Awards, but the former GMB presenter requested that pH๏τographers not take pictures of them together. 

An on looker added: ‘Katie certainly seems to be able to put a smile back on Eamonn’s face. They seem genuinely besotted with each other.’

Eamonn and Loose Women star Ruth announced their plans to divorce in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together.

Now, Katie, who enjoyed a romantic cruise with the TV star earlier this year, has told friends she is in for ‘the long haul’ with Eamonn.

She has been helping Eamonn through the split from Ruth, but her friends say she is at pains to point out that their friendship has only grown close once the marriage was over in May.

In September the former This Morning presenter emotionally revealed he can no longer look after himself. 

Speaking at the event Eamonn admitted he was glad to see the end of 2024, while being supported by his girlfriend

Eamonn has battled many health woes this year and recently revealed he ‘can no longer walk or look after himself’ (pictured with Jo O’Meara)

In an emotional video, Eamonn admitted his former days of independence have come to an end as he pleaded his followers to adopt a dog as he petted his pooch Bella. 

Eamonn, who used to share a rescue dog, Maggie, with his ex-wife Ruth, also revealed that losing his ability to walk also had an impact. 

He captioned the clip: ‘Think about giving Bella a home. If I could walk and look after myself she would be mine but instead you could be me. Talk to @TheK9Angels . Absolutely lovely Doggie.’

Eamonn uses a wheelchair due to chronic back pain as well as undergoing painful physio sessions.

Speaking in January he said the ‘harsh reality’ could be that he may never be able to walk unaided again.

In 2016, Eamonn underwent a double-hip replacement operation lasting three-and-a-quarter hours after living with acute pain for many years.

Speaking about his operation at the time, Eamonn said: ‘ Was I nervous? No! It was just like being on television. In the build-up I was stressed — can I do this? Will I handle it?’

Two years later, Eamonn detailed his battle with shingles and how he was struck with the virus on his son Declan’s wedding day.

During an appearance on Loose Women in September 2021, he spoke about his health battle which left him unable to work on This Morning three years ago.

He also shared images of his puffy face covered in marks and scabs during his battle.

Shingles is a viral rash caused by varicella zoster virus, the virus which causes chickenpox, being reactivated. In the UK, 90 per cent of adults have had chickenpox, so will have this virus lying dormant in their nervous systems.

He underwent spinal surgery in 2022 following years of chronic back pain and previously had a double-hip replacement in 2016

He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg

His years of chronic back pain started in spring 2021 – which came completely out of nowhere.

The pain become so severe that it left Eamonn reliant on a walking stick, but soon found out the root cause.

He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg.

In September 2022, Eamonn was forced to step away from his GB news show as he underwent vital back surgery to aid his chronic back pain.

Following his surgery, he revealed that despite physiotherapy, he continues to find his lack of mobility stops him from doing simple things and is forced to rely on others, which he described as ‘soul destroying’.

His spinal surgery left him with a weakened left leg, too, and just over two weeks into his recovery from the operation, Eamonn fell backwards down 18 stairs at the Surreyhome, hitting the stone floor at the bottom.

The horrific accident could easily have killed him. Instead, he emerged with a broken shoulder, and his legs further weakened.

The former This Morning host admitted at the time that fracturing his shoulder in a fall is a ‘mᴀssive setback’. 

The presenter and Ruth announced their plans to divorce last month after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together

A year after his spinal surgery, Eamonn underwent a spine and neck stretching procedure in September 2023 after admitting he ‘couldn’t walk’.

Eamonn admitted he ‘hadn’t recovered’ from his back surgery, confessing: ‘I can’t run, I can’t walk, I can’t do anything except watch TV and eat.’

He explained: ‘I just got problems last year in my back, which I haven’t recovered from. It’s not good, it’s not a good recipe I have to say.’

Prior to their split estranged wife Ruth revealed she feared Eamonn ‘might never be 100 per cent right’.