Eamonn Holmes and new girlfriend's romance timeline as truth about cosy getaway uncovered

GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes, 64, enjoyed a romantic cruise with his new girlfriend, Katie Alexander, 42, following rumours of the pair looking to move in together

Eamonn Holmes has moved on from his relationship with Ruth Langsford and is enjoying a new romance.

The former This Morning presenters announced their shock split in May and the GB News host, 64, was quick to fall in love again. Earlier this month, he was snapped getting cosy at a Spanish port with his new flame, Katie Alexander, 42. The couple jetted off on a Mediterranean cruise for some late-summer relaxation and sunshine.

It has now been revealed that the romantic trip away was actually a paid work job for the television anchor, who signed a lucrative deal as an ambassador with holiday company, Not Just Travel. A source claimed the cruise break didn't cost Eamonn a penny - but Katie was happy to join and "enjoy their first throes of love".

A source told Mail Online: "While it looked like Eamonn had whisked Katie off on a no-expense-spared trip away, it didn't actually cost him a penny. It was part of his deal with Not Just Travel so, if anything, he was actually paid to go – which was very fortuitous indeed, especially because he could take a plus one with him."

The source added that there was an "element of work" as Eamonn had to "film some segments to promote the company". "But the fact he didn't pay certainly lessens the whole idea it was a romantic trip away," they said. "Katie didn't seem to mind though, it was a lovely, sunny break for her as they enjoy their first throes of love."

Meanwhile, Loose Women panellist Ruth is said to be 'gobsmacked' at Eamonn's new relationship. A source told OK! earlier this month: "She's just trying to get on with life and be around good friends, she's partying through the pain and is trying to get through it. Ruth is distracting herself and doing things that make her happy keeping busy and being around friends, family and work is the only way she can get through it."

For Eamonn, it seems he is putting all his energy into his new romance as he and Katie are reportedly ready to take their relationship to the next level and move in together. Here, we take a look back at how they first met...

First exchange

It's thought Eamonn's connection with Katie started nine years before his split from Ruth, beginning with a Twitter (X) exchange back in 2015, when Katie responded to one of Eamonn's posts. It remains unclear when this interaction evolved into a friendship, but it is reported that Ruth found out Eamonn had been lavishing gifts on Katie in the year leading up to their separation. This included taking her and her children to a safari park and gifting them tickets to a Beyonce concert.

In October last year, eight months prior to his break up with Ruth, it's reported Eamonn - who is in ill health and can no longer walk unaided - travelled all the way up to Yorkshire to host a charity event associated with Katie's work. According to the Mail Online, Katie's former husband, George, hints that she and Eamonn were 'meeting up' frequently at some point after his marriage to Katie ended in 2022.

Some reports even suggest that she regularly stayed in a Surrey hotel just 10 minutes away from the Holmes-Langsford marital home in Weybridge before the couple announced their separation. Ruth's friends claim to be unaware of any of this, but they say that Ruth, who has still been wearing her wedding rings, has reportedly been living a nightmare due to the focus on her estranged husband and his new partner. "Each time they are seen or mentioned together, it causes her pain," Mail Online claims.

Regular visits

Katie's ex-husband, bar owner George Alexander, with whom she shares two children, recently expressed that he felt like the "luckiest man alive" when she agreed to become his wife. George, 53, said: "I have a lot of sympathy for Ruth. I had my heart broken when my marriage to Katie ended. It took me a couple of years to recover. I know how distraught Ruth must be feeling. She's going through what I did after our marriage ended. Katie has a heart, so will feel bad about Ruth."

George was also the one to reveal that Eamonn and Katie first connected on social media. "She was not swooning over him like he was George Clooney, but she liked being on social media, and one day said she'd had a reply from him," he added. "She'd commented on one of his posts and Eamonn got in touch. I must admit I laughed it off."

He went on to share that their separation was amicable and he only found out that Katie, who is now a relationship therapist, was communicating with Eamonn after their marriage had ended. He said: "I was surprised by it. Katie would go and visit him. It was a regular pattern."

Moving in

Eamonn is set to move on permanently with Katie and they are reportedly looking for their own love nest. A source told The Sun: "Katie's assured him she's in it for the long haul and they're both settling down nicely. They've been spending so much time at his Kingston flat that they're even looking to move in together permanently."

The source claimed that Eamonn hopes to move out of his current rented home soon because it's "too small" and "too expensive". His current home is said to be on the basement floor and doesn't offer the lovebirds enough privacy.

"With that in mind, they're really keen to move into a bigger place in the country with lots of land. Katie will obviously be there to care for Eamonn as he grows older and thinks it's best to do that somewhere without prying eyes," the source added.

The pair were spotted heading off on their luxury cruise together last week, with marriage counsellor Katie seen pushing Eamonn's walking frame through the departure lounge as he followed behind in a wheelchair.

It came after a source told The Mirror that Eamonn and Katie are "serious" about their "growing" relationship. They said: "Katie is very excited about the prospect of a trip away with Eamonn. He works hard at GB News and with his rehab so she is looking forward to them having some time on their own relaxing away from everything. But it was also be a clear sign to everyone that they are serious about their growing relationship."