Ruth Langsford opens up about sister’s suicide in heartbreaking interview

By Lauren Hughes 2019-12-16T20:15:43Z

Ruth Langsford has broken her silence regarding her sister’s death, in a new interview that reveals how she and Eamonn will be celebrating the Christmas period, in spite of their tragic circumstances.

Ruth’s sister Julia was found dead by her husband, Paul, in Lingfield earlier this year. The TV presenter took some time off from her presenting role in order to deal with her grief.

Paul had been away visiting his and Julia's daughter, when he became increasingly concerned that he couldn’t get in touch with his wife. After cutting his trip short early, Paul made the tragic discovery at the couple’s home.

The coroner ruled that Julia's death was suicide, after hearing she had been suffering from depression. Julia did not leave a note.

MORE:Ruth Langsford shares adorable video of her mum showing off her dance skills

Ruth and Eamonn have spoken out for the first time since Julia’s death, revealing in an interview with OK magazine that they almost cancelled Christmas this year, as they couldn’t bear the thought of enjoying the festivities without her.

In the months that followed the tragic incident, the couple have decided to go ahead with their Christmas plans, especially considering how much Julia ‘loved December 25’.

A photo posted by on

Ruth admitted, “I’ll cry but we’ll be happy too.”

Ruth explained to fans at time that sister Julia had been suffering from a ‘lifelong illness’, but it was only recently revealed that Julia took her own life.

Announcing the news at the time, Ruth tweeted, ‘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.

MORE:Eamonn Holmes dedicates adorable post to wife Ruth Langsford following her devastating loss

‘As I am sure you will appreciate I need to take time to grieve with my family. Thank you for your understanding.’

A photo posted by on

“Ruth is utterly heartbroken and devastated to have found out her beloved sister Julia has died,” a source told The Sun at the time.

“She adored Julia. They were very close – speaking all the time on the phone and enjoying girls’ days out. Julia had been unwell for quite some time but this has shaken Ruth to the core. Eammon and son Jack are comforting her at home but Ruth is in deep shock. It’s absolutely heartbreaking for the whole family.”

Lauren Hughes

Lauren is deputy editor at woman&home.com in the UK and became a journalist mainly because she enjoys being nosy. With a background in features journalism, Lauren has worked on the woman&home brand for four years. Before woman&home Lauren worked across a variety of women's lifestyle titles, including GoodTo, Woman's Own, and Woman magazine. After starting out working for a local paper in Yorkshire, her journalism career took her to Bristol where she hunted out stories for national papers and magazines at Medavia news agency, before landing a job in London working as a lifestyle assistant.

Lauren loves helping people share their stories, bringing experiences to life online, honing her interview techniques with everyone from authors to celebrities, headteachers to local heroes. As well as having a good nose for a story, Lauren has a passion for the English language and years of experience optimizing digital content to reach the widest audience possible. During her time at w&h, Lauren has worked on big brand campaigns like the Amazing Women Awards and assisted in developing w&h expert-approved Buyer's Guides—the place to go if you're looking to splash out on an important purchase and want some trusted advice. In addition to her journalism career, Lauren also has a background in copywriting for prestigious brands such as Inhabit Hotel, eco-development K'in in Tulum, social enterprise The Goldfinger Factory and leading London architect Holland Harvey, using language in all its glorious forms, from detailed guidebooks to snappy social content.

A big fan of adventure, Lauren is also a keen travel writer and loves sharing tips on where to find the best places to eat, drink, and be merry off the beaten track. Lauren has written a series of travel guides for London hotels and loves sharing her insights into a destination's cultural and culinary offerings. If you need a recommendation on any UK destination, she's more than happy to help. At the weekend, you'll usually find her hanging out with her pet cat (or anyone else's pet she can get her hands on), escaping to the countryside, or devouring a good book.

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