Eamonn Holmes has opened up about the most surprising love of his life — not his new partner, nor his past marriage, but the unconditional bond he shares with his beloved dog, Maggie.

The broadcaster, 65, revealed in a candid interview that his relationship with the rescue dog has given him a form of love and loyalty he says he has rarely found in humans.

A Companion Through Heartbreak

Holmes and his ex-wife, fellow presenter Ruth Langsford, adopted Maggie from Dogs Trust 15 years ago. Over the years, fans have grown familiar with the fluffy companion through photos and posts, where she often stole the spotlight.

After the couple’s split in May last year — ending 14 years of marriage — Maggie stayed with Ruth at the Surrey home they once shared.

Still, Holmes insists his bond with the dog endures:

“There’s only one word I’d use and that’s love. She changed me, changed my life, and changed my perception towards people.”

Love in Spite of Limitations

Eamonn has been open about his declining health. Now reliant on a wheelchair after two years of mobility struggles, he admitted his disability has limited how he interacts with Maggie.

“Obviously the dog is low down to the ground, so I can’t bend down, I can’t lift her up, I can’t take her for walks,” he explained.

Yet despite these barriers, the emotional bond remains. “Although I can’t do what I want to do with her, my relationship with her supersedes that,” he said, calling their love “pure, unadulterated, and unconditional.”

Beyond Marriage and Heartache

The past year has been transformative for Holmes. Alongside co-parenting their son Jack, 23, with Ruth, he has also found happiness again with Katie Alexander, 43, a relationship counsellor. Ruth, meanwhile, has chosen to remain single, saying earlier this year:

“Relationship breakdowns are very difficult, but you deal with it and move on. You can let yourself crumble, or you pick yourself up. It’s a choice.”

Despite their separation, both Holmes and Langsford continue to treasure Maggie. Years ago, Holmes even joked: “If my wife loved me the way my dog loves me, I’d be a very happy man.”

Why Maggie Means So Much

Holmes believes his dog’s affection filled a space he had long sought in people.

“Love that I’ve often looked for in human beings, suddenly you’re getting it back,” he said. “There’s just an empathy.”

For Ruth too, Maggie remains a source of comfort. “We love her so much,” she once shared. “No matter how hard your day has been, when you come home and she greets you, everything else just melts away.”

A New Chapter of Love

Though his marriage to Ruth is over, Holmes has made peace with the past and embraced the future. Between his new relationship and the enduring bond with Maggie, he insists he is surrounded by the love that matters most.

“She changed my life,” he reflected simply. “That’s what unconditional love is.”