GMTV presenter Eamonn Holmes is being wooed by the BBC with an offer of a prime-time spot and a £1 million pay packet. And after a decade of rising at 4am, the popular star seems open to a new challenge.
“Every single morning I think, ‘Eeuugghh, I just don’t want to get up today,” the father of three recently told one magazine. “I am the worst person I know to be cast in this job. If someone could put it on at six in the evening instead of the morning I would be in heaven.” It may not be as a result of divine intervention, but Eamonn may soon get his wish.
BBC executives were reportedly impressed with Eamonn’s work earlier this year when he fronted their Saturday night ratings hit The National Lottery Jet Set. “He’s the ultimate professional and is viewed here as an untapped talent who viewers would love to see more of,” says one BBC insider. “He has endless experience of thinking on his feet if anything should go wrong. No talent like Eamonn’s can stay in breakfast TV forever.” The proposed deal, which would entail presenting both a prime-time programme and more serious fare, would double the presenter’s current salary.
Despite the secret nature of the talks, Eamonn himself seems to be hinting at a move, saying: “When this contract runs out I’ll have done 11 years of breakfast television. That’ll be the record and good luck to anyone who wants to beat it.”
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