Eamonn Holmes shares pain of first Mother's Day without a mum

Eamonn Holmes has shared the pain of facing Mother's Day without a mum, just four months after she died.

The 63-year-old TV presenter paid tribute to his late mother Josie - who died aged 93 in November 2022 - and shared a video on social media of her telling him "I love you".

Holmes posted on Instagram: "This is my first year without a Mother on Mother’s Day [Crying emoji]. But I did an interview last year where I said how much I loved her. How glad I am I did. As you can see she seemed pretty happy. If you still have a Mum . Give her a hug from me and don’t forget her tomorrow. I#mothersday #mothers #mum "

In the video Josie teases: "A lovely piece in the [Belfast] Telegraph about me. I hope I was as good a mum as you've put in that paper. But anyway, I was all delighted about it. For once. So son at least you've done something right at last!"

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She adds: "Thank you very much love and I love you too."

The GB News presenter's former This Morning colleague Vanessa Feltz commented: "Sending you so much love. This is my 18th year without my beautiful mother. She was just 57 when she passed away. I miss her every day. Huge hugs my darling friend."

Holmes – who is married to Loose Women star Ruth Langsford – was unable to attend his mother's funeral in person as he was not well enough to travel.

The Northern Irish broadcaster - who underwent spinal surgery in September 2022 and then fractured his shoulder falling down the stairs during his convalescence - appeared virtually during the service at St Patrick’s Church in Belfast to pay tribute to his mother.

Holmes, whose father Leonard passed away in 1991, wrote of her death: "My amazing brothers and I said Goodbye for the last time to our beautiful Mum Josie this afternoon.

"She's at last reunited with Daddy now. That is our only consolation.

"We loved and will miss her so much.

"Every time I visited her she came to the door to bless me with Holy Water and Wave goodbye. Now sadly it really is Goodbye Mummy x."

Holmes recently returned to work at GB News co-hosting morning show Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel after several months off.

The former GMTV presenter has spoken openly about his battle with chronic pain in recent years and had an operation on his spine in September 2022.

The TV star has three slipped discs in his back caused by a dislocated pelvis and has suffered ongoing problems for the past few years as a result, including chronic pain and insomnia.

Holmes said his pelvis "mysteriously" dislocated in 2021 and put his back out of alignment as a result.

Read more: Eamonn Holmes pays tribute after death of his 'beautiful' mum

He underwent a double hip replacement in 2016. The surgery was carried out in a bid to tackle excruciating hip, leg and back pain he had secretly suffered for more than 20 years.

Watch: Eamonn Holmes back at work after spine surgery