Eamonn Holmes, the veteran broadcaster, has faced a double blow this week, as reports reveal he has stepped down from his role on the board of the Manchester United Foundation, just weeks after suffering a stroke. The 66-year-old GB News presenter is now focused on recovery following last month’s hospitalisation.
Speaking candidly on Scott Wright’s Session7 podcast, Holmes opened up about the toll his health has taken on his daily life. “I don’t know. Society’s ageist,” he admitted. “I’m sick, I’m in a wheelchair, that’s been horrendous to deal with for two years. Certainly, I don’t think TV wants to know you. I can’t get up. I need help getting out of this chair. I have to have carers throughout the day. But once I’m sitting down, I can do everything. I understand my job, I understand what I’m supposed to do. But I understand it’s tough for people to deal with you.”
Holmes’ health struggles stretch back several years. Since 2016, he has undergone multiple surgeries, including double hip replacements and treatments for shingles. In 2022, he had back surgery following three slipped discs, leaving him reliant on a walking frame and, at times, a wheelchair.
Last year, he shared that a back operation “went wrong,” leaving him largely wheelchair-bound. He told ITV News: “I had a disc operation that went wrong and left me unable to walk other than 50 yards or something with a stroller device – basically, I’m wheelchair-bound.”
Adding to his woes, Holmes underwent an eye operation last October, emerging with eye patches, and suffered a fall at home that he described as the “sorest and most powerful” knock to his head.
Amid these ongoing health battles, the broadcaster has reportedly faced a serious career setback. Companies House filings indicate that Holmes has “resigned” from his position as director on the Manchester United Foundation board. Sources told the Daily Mail that while board members can serve beyond nine consecutive years, the current chair opted to implement a mandatory break, meaning Holmes has stepped aside after two consecutive stints.
For Eamonn Holmes, the past two years have been a challenging combination of health struggles and professional disruption — a reminder of the resilience required to navigate life in the public eye while facing personal battles.
Source: Evening Standard
