Eamonn Holmes 'doing okay' after stroke, says son

Eamonn Holmes is "doing okay given the circumstances" after suffering a stroke, his eldest son Declan has said.

Holmes, a former Sky News presenter, suffered a stroke last week and was recovering in hospital, GB News, where the 66-year-old co-hosts a breakfast show, said on Saturday.

Declan Holmes said in a statement on Sunday his father's medical emergency "came as a real shock, but dad is doing okay given the circumstances and we're taking it one step at a time".

He thanked those who sent messages of support, saying: "It means a lot to us as a family."

"For now, we're focused on him and keeping things steady around him," he added.

"We'd really value a bit of privacy as we navigate it, and what lies ahead, but thank you again for the support as it means so much to dad and the rest of the family."

A spokesperson for GB News said yesterday that Holmes was "responding well to treatment".

"His colleagues and everyone at GB News wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to the people's channel when he is ready to return," they added.

Holmes presents GB News Breakfast with his co-host Ellie Costello. Alex Armstrong will present in his absence this week, the broadcaster said.

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Holmes, from Northern Ireland, is Britain's longest-serving breakfast news presenter, with a career spanning more than 40 years.

Before joining GB News in 2022, he anchored GMTV between 1993 and 2005, Sky News Sunrise between 2005 and 2016, and co-presented ITV's This Morning from 2006 to 2021.

The presenter has previously spoken about his health issues, saying that dislodging discs in his back had impinged on his sciatic nerve and affected the mobility of his right leg. He underwent spinal surgery and a double hip replacement.

Holmes had two falls last May, including one from his chair live on-air.

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