EAMONN Holmes is one of the best-loved faces of British telly – and it’s been no secret over the years that he loves his cars.
The daytime TV star has become known for his collection of motors – which in the past has included a classic Jaguar and a luxury “dream car” Bentley that his co-host and wife Ruth Langsford dreaded he’d come home with.
Jaguar XJ-S V12
This ultra-rare Jaguar XJ-S V12, which was recently sold by car auction house Bonham for £3,500, was originally bought by Eamonn in 1989.
Vastly different from the standard XJ-S, this British classic boasts two removable roof panels – which are stored in the boot – and is missing the coupe’s two rear seats in favour of a pair of luggage lockers topped by a parcel shelf.
Bentley Continental cabriolet
After appearing in Channel 5’s How The Other Half Lives, Eamonn’s wife Ruth said: “If we ever won the lottery, I would dread what he would come home with – Eamonn would love a Bentley.”
Eamonn did exactly that six years later, when the star joked that he “got his way” by picking up a stunning convertible Continental from Derby-based Baytree Cars – a dealership that specialises in prestigious motors.
As reported by LoveBusiness, Eamonn said: “Baytree have the sort of cars you collected as a kid in your Matchbox series.
“When you come into the showroom, it is like art on display – you can see curves and lines of things of beauty.
“I usually change my car every two years and as you get older you wonder how many chances you have left to drive the sort of vehicle you’ve always dreamed of.”
At the time, Eamonn was fighting chronic back pain but Ruth allowed him his “supreme indulgence” because she “felt sorry for him”.
Sadly, in a video posted in 2023 by Baytree, it was revealed that Eamonn had to look for a different car after increasingly struggling with his back.
Eamonn and Ruth’s most memorable TV moments
The pair have shared many funny moments with each other on screen
Their ‘car crash’ interview with Warwick Davis – The actor attempted to play a game of Tenable with the presenters before it descended into chaos with Eamonn telling Ruth ‘Shhh! I’m captain!’ and his wife responding ‘Don’t shush me just because you’re the captain!’
A Loose Women appearance – Eamonn jokes Ruth would ‘start a fight in an empty room’ – to which she jibed ‘everyone says he’s so lovely but they don’t have to live with him’.
This Morning sofa kiss – the pair showed viewers some rare PDA while discussing whether or not a partner should be forgiven for kissing someone else and Ruth said ‘give us a kiss’.
Range Rover
Eamonn’s back troubles meant the TV host opted for an ultra-luxury Range Rover as his Bentley replacement – also purchased from Baytree Cars.
In a drive-along interview with the dealership’s director Chris Mcdermott, it was revealed that the pair discussed a suitable motor for the celeb to be “ferried around in” when he’s working.
Chris said: “I knew the Range Rover was the right car for you to go into.
“When you had your back problems, I instantly knew that was the most comfortable car that would do a job for you.”
Fiat 124
In a Facebook post in 2019, Eamonn revealed to his legion of fans that he bought his first car all the way back in 1979 when he was just 19 years old – a classic Fiat 124.
In the caption, he wrote: “Bought a car today, which brought me back to my first one. I was 19, it was a Fiat 124 with rally headlights. £550. I was robbed!”
The 124, which was built between 1966 and 1974, was eventually replaced by the better-remembered 131.
This humble motor seemingly kick-started the ITV legend’s love of motors, which has been highlighted in recent years by his numerous social media posts with classy sets of wheels.
In recent times, he’s pictured himself stood alongside a James Bond-style Aston Martin DB5 and even a seldom seen DMC DeLorean – an 80s sports car best-known for its role in the film series Back to the Future.
