Ruth Langsford was overcome with emotion when she recalled the moment her husband Eamonn Holmes popped the question. On Friday's edition of This Morning, the presenter revealed how Eamonn asked her mother's permission for her hand in marriage as her father Dennis - who died back in 2012 - was battling with dementia. "My father obviously couldn't give him permission so Eamonn asked my mum," she told viewers. "I didn't know this and I thought that was a really lovely thing to do. "
Her husband remarked: "And you did cry… And you're going to cry again." The comments come as the couple discussed a recent storyline on Emmerdale. Last year, Ruth discussed her father's struggle with the illness, saying: "I remember my dad struggling - and he was a bright man - but he was suddenly with [money] would have his hand out and would say 'take what you want' because he was looking at blank coins in his head I suppose."
© Photo: RexRuth Langsford recalled the moment Eamonn Holmes popped the question on Friday's This Morning
"It's been this long, slow burn. For a lot of people it's very slow," Ruth continued. "He started doing odd things. 15 years ago people wouldn't have talked about this like this. There was still a bit of stigma. My dad was there in body, the shell of my dad, but he wasn’t there… and the hardest thing is when your loved one doesn’t remember you. That's so painful."
Take a look inside Ruth and Eamonn's home
At the time, the TV star also issued a heartfelt thanks to Emmerdale actor John Middleton about his portrayal of dementia sufferer Ashley Thomas and the rest of the Emmerdale team. "It's not often that dementia gets represented so well and I think as a programme – and you particularly John, as an actor, have done it so brilliantly. So thank you," she said.
