Ruth Langsford has confided to friends that she won't consider dating until her divorce from Eamonn Holmes is finalised, according to an insider. The couple, who were married for 14 years, surprised many with their split announcement last year. The insider told New! magazine that despite Eamonn, 65, moving on with Katie Alexander, who is 22 years his junior, Loose Women panelist Ruth isn't ready for a new relationship and simply desires to end her marriage.

"She's still wearing her wedding ring because she's coming to terms with a long relationship ending, and realising Eamonn maybe wasn't the person she thought he was," the source claimed. "And she's also coming to terms with life being very, very different for her going forward. Ruth has been having fun going out with her girlfriends, and enjoying a little flirt, but that's it. She really needs the Eamonn chapter to be fully closed before she can move on romantically, she needs her freedom.

"Dating is far from her mind at the moment," the source continued. "She just wants to get the divorce over and done with. Her friends would love to see her happy with someone else, but she needs to get the divorce over with first before she can properly move on.", reports the Mirror.

The former This Morning duo, parents to 22 year old Jack, issued a statement last May, stating: "Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing."

In September last year, Eamonn was seen embarking on a Mediterranean cruise with relationship counsellor Katie, before making a public appearance together at a significant awards event two months later, perceived by some as a subtle introduction of their relationship. Ruth, on the other hand, has not been associated romantically with anyone post-split.

The duo, famous for co-presenting This Morning every Friday for 14 years until their departure in 2020, embarked on their romantic journey back in 1997. By then, Eamonn had parted ways with his first wife Gabrielle, with whom he shares three children.

They welcomed their son Jack into the world in 2002 and tied the knot in June 2010, soon after Eamonn's heartwarming proposal. Considering their shared past, it hardly comes as a shock that Ruth confessed she is still grappling with the marital breakup.

"I'm not delighted my marriage is over but I've accepted that my marriage is over, so I am trying to now embrace the fact that I'm single and can make choices that are just about me," she disclosed to Woman and Home magazine.