Fiona Phillips shares true feelings on Eamonn Holmes as she admits 'hating' one thing

Eamonn Holmes' former GMTV co-host, Fiona Phillips, has claimed he "[wasn't] always the easiest person to work with". The duo presented the ITV morning programme GMTV together for nearly a decade, from 1996 until Eamonn's departure in April 2005.

Upon his exit, he released a statement which read: "What a privilege it has been to wake up the nation over the years with stories that affected all our lives. I've covered every type of story imaginable at GMTV and it's the right time to move on.

"I'll particularly miss my partnership with Fiona Phillips and I wish her and all the rest of the team the very best for the future."

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In her own farewell message, Fiona humorously noted that she had spent more time with Eamonn than her own husband Martin Frizell, adding: "This is our ninth year together. I will miss him more than words can say."

Now two decades after his departure, the 66-year-old has made her true feelings clear.

Writing for The Mail on Sunday alongside her husband Martin, Fiona claimed that Eamonn left the show because he felt it had become too "celebrity-obsessed".

"He was a good journalist but not always the easiest person to work with," she further commented.

After his exit, Fiona said it "felt like a new opportunity" for her, having previously felt sidelined as his co-host.

"For years, if there was a big interview to be done with a politician, Eamonn would lead the conversation and I was supposed to chip in with a few questions near the end - and I hated that," she confessed.

The mum-of-two revealed that she also later found out that Eamonn was paid "significantly more" than her.

"It seems incredible that well into this century, no one had batted an eyelid at a man being paid more than a woman for doing exactly the same job," she added.

After stepping away from GMTV, Eamonn went on to join Sky News, presenting the revamped Sunrise show.

His work on screen has also included co-hosting ITV's This Morning and more recently, GB News' Breakfast Show with Ellie Costello.

As for Fiona, with the help of Martin, she remains focused on her writing career, which has included the release of her new book Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer's.

The presenter was diagnosed with the disease in 2022, which she initially confused with menopausal symptoms.

After going public with her diagnosis, Eamonn honoured his "dear friend" in a touching statement on-air.

Speaking with his co-stars, he said Fiona "always did fear it would come after her", given her mother's struggle with the illness, and added: "We wish Fiona all the best."