Eamonn Holmes – Favourite Things
Eamonn Holmes is a Northern Irish broadcaster and journalist who has been appearing on television and radio for 41 years. From 1993 to 2005, he co-presented GMTV before moving on to Sky News Sunrise for the next eleven years. From 2006, Eamonn and his wife Ruth became the popular hosts of This Morning, which they presented until 2021. He currently presents GB News’ breakfast broadcast alongside Isabel Webster.
These are a few of Eamonn Holmes’ favourite things…
Anchovies
This may sound strange but I went into a restaurant the other day and simply ordered a bowl of anchovies. I really do like them. I think I have convinced myself that they are full of goodness covered in healthy oils and should form the basis of The Mediterranean diet that I aspire to but never quite maintain. I’m not a huge fan of pizza but if I were to have one, my preferred topping would be anchovies.
Manchester United
Manchester United is my huge comfort blanket. Watching them not only brings me back to being ten years of age but reminds me of happy times. Even the bad times are remembered happily because they all involved a shared experience with my brothers, children, and good friends. Manchester United is not just a football team; it is a family, a belief and a religion, bringing me great satisfaction and happiness. Old Trafford is my happy place. I have made so many friends through not just United but football in general. Others may disagree, but I wouldn’t say that I was a fanatic. I would, however, say I have been blessed to have Manchester United in my life as a boy and a man.
Movies
Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, James Stewart and the biggest movie star of all time John Wayne. These were my heroes, role models and the world into which I would escape, even to this day. I would choose a retro movie most times over some dreary piece of realism that we are bombarded with so often these days. I don’t want to be made miserable when I go to the cinema; I want to find a world that is more interesting than mine. William Shatner as Captain Kirk was my big role model. When faced with a dilemma I ask myself, “What would Kirk do ?” An evening watching Star Trek 2 – The Wrath of Khan is very hard to beat.
Maggie
Maggie is my dog, but she’s no ordinary dog. She is a rescue dog, and she changed my life when she came into it 12 years ago. Everyone who has the privilege of a dog in their life will probably think the same as me, “I hope I become the person that my dog thinks I am”. She has made me a better person. She has made me kinder and more considerate towards all animals, and without a doubt, she is my fifth child. She also made me fervently believe in the motto, “Adopt don’t shop”.
Cars
I was 18 when I bought my first car. It was a Fiat 500, otherwise known as a “fate worse than death!” It was rusty, leaked water through every joint and was unreliable, but it was mine, and it gave me independence and safety in a Belfast which was shrouded in peril in the late 1970s. I have continued a passion for all sorts of cars ever since. A car is the ultimate interior design package. The thinking has been done for you. The options are there in terms of colours, upholstery, style and technology. I couldn’t design one myself but I know what I like when I see it. The Fiat 500 lasted for two years until 1980 when it was replaced by a Fiat Strada, but please don’t judge me. When I want some peace and quiet I literally go out to my driveway and sit in my current car. It has more comfortable seats than I have at home. I can regulate the temperature, listen to the radio, feel the sun on my face and, yes maybe even have the odd doze. My wife thinks this is weird behaviour and lives in fear of the neighbours observing what she believes isn’t normal practice, but hey, as I said earlier — don’t judge me.
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