Eamonn Holmes gets OBE on New Year Honours list

Eamonn Holmes, who has worked in broadcasting for nearly four decades.

Broadcaster and journalist Eamonn Holmes, who began his career at UTV back in 1980, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

The Belfast man, who has become the longest serving presenter of breakfast programming in the world, has been recognised for his services to broadcasting.

Eamonn has been a television reporter since the age of just 19 and, at 21, became the youngest anchor of a news or current affairs programme when he fronted Good Evening Ulster.

Eamonn Holmes during his first reporting job for UTV's Farming Ulster in 1980.

Eamonn has gone on to work for a host of broadcasters, including the BBC, Sky and ITV – working on both news and entertainment shows.

He currently co-presents with his wife Ruth Langsford on This Morning.

Declaring that the honour meant a lot to him, Eamonn added: “Throughout my career, I have always tried to represent everyone in Northern Ireland as best I can and as well as I can.

“It was, and is, so important to me that everyday programmes come from here, that there are broadcast job opportunities for people who live here, and that national television includes us in normal issues - not just the abnormal ones we were once best known for.

“So, while I understand not everyone may want to share in my award, if you do, see it as FOR US, rather than for me.

“Thank you for supporting and staying with me for all these years.”