Ruth Langsford admits the ‘hardest year’ of her life was after her sister Julia’s suicide and tells how ‘amazing’ Eamonn Holmes helped her through it

• If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123 or visit: www.samaritans.org 

Ruth Langsford has opened up about her sister Julia’s suicide and told how it was the ‘hardest year’ of her life.

The Loose Women presenter, 63, reflected on the devastating loss of her sister and admitted she could have ‘cried all day’ as she spoke about her grief.

Ruth’s sister Julia Johnson, who had battled depression for years, was found dead at the age of 62 by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey, in June 2019.

Speaking to Kaye Adams on her How to be 60 podcast, Ruth told how her husband Eamonn Holmes was ‘amazing’ and helped her get through the very difficult time.

According to The Mirror, she said: ‘The hardest year of my life was when my sister died. I can’t even tell you what year it is, because I’ve blocked it from my memory really.’

Devastating: Ruth Langsford has opened up about her sister Julia’s suicide and told how it was the ‘hardest year’ of her life

Ruth said Eamonn and their son Jack, now 21, both supported her and she told how her job also helped her after Julia’s death as it gave her ‘structure’ back in her life.

‘Eamonn was amazing during that time and Jack and then work,’ she said. 

‘I needed a focus, which was – get up and I would cry in the shower – have a big old bawl – and then I could almost cut it off and go: “right, come on, time for work, dry your hair, go to work”.

‘I needed that, because I could lie and cry all day about my sister. I needed that focus and structure back in my life.’

Ruth also stressed the importance of not ‘locking’ the pain of losing a loved one ‘in a box’ as she candidly spoke about her grief with her Loose Women co-star Kaye.

Ruth has previously spoken about how she almost almost quit her TV presenting career after being left ‘heartbroken’ following Julia’s death.

Speaking to Best Magazine in 2020, Ruth admitted: ‘It seemed wrong to be cheery on screen, when, inside, my heart was breaking.’

But her husband Eamonn encouraged her to go back to work in memory of Julia, after she admitted she had ‘no motivation or desire’ to be in the public eye.

After a month of ‘crying, screaming and sobbing’, Ruth said Eamonn told her she had ‘so much to live for’.

Loss: Ruth’s sister Julia Johnson, who had battled depression for years, was found dead at the age of 62 by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey, in June 2019 

Support: Ruth has told how her husband Eamonn Holmes (pictured in 2019) helped her get through the very difficult time, while her presenting jobs also gave her ‘focus’ amid her grief

Ruth explained: ‘Eamonn pointed out that he was, in effect, losing not one, but two of the most precious people in his life – Julia and me. He showed me how I had so much to live for in Julia’s memory – and beyond.

‘He pleaded with me not to let it win, by ruining everything I had achieved – and still had to celebrate.’

Sharing a photo alongside Julia in June 2019, Ruth told her Instagram followers at the time of her sister’s tragic death: ‘My lovely Sis Julia has sadly died after a very long illness. My heart is completely broken.’

‘She was the kindest and most gentle soul and I will miss her forever. As I am sure you will appreciate I need to take time to grieve with my family. Thank you for your understanding.’

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123 or visit: www.samaritans.org. 

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