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Sky News Media

Eamonn Holmes steps down from Sky News ending 11 years as breakfast host

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By Jessica Goodfellow, Media Reporter

September 1, 2016 | 3 min read

Eamonn Holmes has announced he will step down as anchor of Sky News's Sunrise after 11 years presenting the breakfast show to pursue new projects outside of breaking news.

Eamonn Holmes

Eamonn Holmes

Holmes has hosted Sunrise since 2005, following his departure from ITV’s GMTV, which he co-hosted for 12 years. Today's announcement will end a 23-year run on breakfast TV in total.

In a Facebook post announcing the news, Holmes said that he wanted to free up more time to pursue personal projects and needed to “step away from the daily studio commitment for a while”.

“There is an addiction to a live breaking news studio environment,” he wrote, “However, after more than 3,000 hours of programming it is a habit I have to suppress. Increasingly in life I have found myself in the fortunate position of having so much to do but little time to do it. This seems an opportune moment to change that.

"Going forward, I will now produce and present a number of documentary projects which I have been stalling for some time.

"There is so much going on and I realised it was now or never," he added.

Holmes said he will continue co-presenting ITV’s This Morning breakfast show with his wife Ruth Langsford. He also works for Channel 5, where he presents game show It’s Not Me, It’s You and documentary series How The Other Half Lives.

Holmes last day hosting Sunrise will be 13 October. His replacement has not been announced.

He said John Ryley, the head of Sky News, had been "very understanding and sympathetic" of his decision to depart the broadcaster.

Ryley called Holmes a "true pro": "Over the past 11 years, Eamonn has been instrumental in turning Sunrise into a show that has become a morning must-watch and has a faithful following who begin the day with him and his team. There are very few presenters who can challenge their interviewee with acute questions combined with infectious charm – Eamonn does that."

Holmes follows in the footsteps of a number of Sky News' on-screen talent to depart the broadcaster, including Andrew Wilson, Lorna Dunkley and Samantha Simmonds. In May the head of content John McAndrew announced his departure after 11 years.

Commenting on Sky's News' studio relocation and staff overhaul, Holmes commented: "Nothing stays the same - nor should it. New studios mean a wonderful chance for new ideas and a new approach with new presenters."

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