Teary Ruth Langsford says 'my heart's been ripped out' in family update

19 December 2023 , 10:43

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Teary Ruth Langsford says 'my heart's been ripped out' in family update

Ruth Langsford broke down on camera as she became extremely emotional while speaking about her close-knit family.

The Loose Women star, 63, said she felt as though "part of my heart ripped out" as she spoke about her son Jack leaving home for the first time.

Ruth, who shares her 21-year-old son Jack with her TV star husband Eamonn Holmes, got teary as she spoke about hard she took it when her only son left for university.

In a live video chat, Ruth burst into tears as she explained: "That first week of not having him at home literally felt like part of my heart ripped out. I kept his bedroom door shut."

The presenter broke down as she recalled Jack moving out (Hello)

Ruth and Eamonn are proud parents to son Jack (Instagram/ruthlangsford)

Ruth told Hello! : "I remember coming into his bedroom and crying and getting hold of the pillow, and I could smell him on the pillow, and had a good old cry, and then shutting the door and then that first week was horrendous because I was just so used to having him around."

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The TV presenter was flooded with support over her candid revelation with Blue Peter's Katy Hill commenting: "Oh my goodness! Eldest off to uni in September and you’ve set me off @ruthlangsford! I feel you xxx." Another added: "It's real! Like a bereavement... then menopause hits, to much to handle some days."

Another parent told Ruth not to feel embarrassed: "I feel your pain. I cried when my boys went to uni and sobbed all week when my oldest left home recently. Miss him so much xx."

Ruth later shared a tear-stained still from the chat on her social media pages and cringed: "I can't believe I cried."

Her son Jack studied broadcast journalist at Salford University and this year celebrated his 21st birthday with his famous parents. While Jack is Ruth's only child, Eamonn and his ex-wife Gabrielle have two sons and one daughter; Declan, Rebecca and Niall.

Ruth is also very close to her mother and shared a close bond with sister Julia, who tragically took her own life in 2019. Julia battled depression for years and Ruth said losing her sparked the 'hardest year of her life.'

The presenter said she almost quit her TV work as she battled to say strong, she later said that Eamonn and her son Jack helped get her through the dark times and gave 'structure' back in her life. "Eamonn was amazing during that time and Jack and then work," she said.

"I needed a focus, which was - get up and I would cry in the shower - have a big old bawl – and then I could almost cut it off and go: "right, come on, time for work, dry your hair, go to work. I needed that, because I could lie and cry all day about my sister. I needed that focus and structure back in my life."

Ruth Langsford and her mum Joan and sister Julia (Instagram)

Ruth Langsford and mum Joan share a very close bond (Collect Unknown)

Back in 2020, Ruth opened up about sending Jack to university during the coronavirus pandemic.Speaking on Loose Women, Ruth said she felt "absolutely bereft" when he left home. She said: "I'm alright now. we took him and he seems to be fine, seems to have settled in alright, but it's a worry now with lockdown."

However, Ruth pointed out that he hadn't really contacted her too much since she dropped him off. "I think [teenagers] are much more resilient than we think," Ruth said. "I was talking to my mum about it... my mum was saying it's not too much of a hardship being locked in with your phone!"

While last year she reflected on the day she dropped him off at university for the first time. Ruth admitted: “I truly understand the pain of empty nest syndrome. The day we dropped Jack off at university, we said goodbye and, as we got around the corner, I burst into tears and Eamonn was crying too. It sounds dramatic but for the next three days, I felt like I’d had my womb ripped out. It was physical pain."

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She told Woman and Home: “I was sitting on his bed, sniffing his pillow, and I kept his bedroom door shut because then I could imagine he was in there. Now it’s great. Jack seems so happy and I don’t get as upset each time he comes home and then leaves again."

*If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email [email protected]

Mia O'Hare