When Eamonn Holmes was hospitalised in April after suffering a terrifying stroke, he vowed to get well enough to return to his GB News breakfast show.At the time, producers insisted they were ‘with him every step of the way’. They wanted to give the 66-year-old space to recover, reassuring viewers he was a ‘much-loved member of the family’.But now, insiders tell me it is looking increasingly unlikely that Eamonn will return, as bosses grapple with their own crisis: a lack of star talent.I’m told that this has been exacerbated by Eamonn’s absence and that they have had limited contact with the veteran broadcaster, whose eldest son Declan is managing his affairs while he recuperates.’Everyone has started to accept Eamonn won’t be coming back to do the same job as he did before. They have barely heard from him in months and he isn’t on social media any more,’ an insider tells me.’Declan has been really conscious not to cause his dad any more stress. Before his stroke, Eamonn was going back and forth with lawyers over his divorce from Ruth [Langsford]. Anything work-related has been going through Declan.’ GB News has since dubbed the claims ‘ludicrous’. Eamonn, who first started out in television in 1979 as a reporter for Ulster Television (UTV), is said to be one of the channel’s highest-paid stars, with an annual salary of £450,000. Eamonn Holmes is reportedly one of GB News’s highest paid stars, with an annual salary of £450,000 Eamonn’s breakfast show co-host Ellie Costello has had to keep the show running in his absence. Pictured presenting with Stephen Dixon, who has also been forced to take time off from the show due to health issues As well as suffering a stroke, Eamonn had spinal surgery and has relied on the use of a wheelchair for the past several years. Pictured with his girlfriend Katie Alexander, 44Staffers working behind the scenes have been feeling terribly sorry for Ellie Costello, 32, who joined as Eamonn’s co-host in 2025 after the sacking of Isabel Webster. Isabel, 43, is just one of the recognisable faces in a long list who have departed, including Alastair Stewart and Simon McCoy. As such, Ellie has been co-hosting with a variety of other presenters.I’m told Ellie has been forced to keep the ‘show on the road’, though privately she has been admitting her struggles to close colleagues and friends.An insider tells me: ‘GB Breakfast has been in limbo ever since his stroke. Poor Ellie has been incredible despite struggling. She has shown up day in, day out and with a smile on her face.’But she has made it clear she is struggling. Ellie is a relatively new presenter and she feels like she has a massive weight on her shoulders to make sure they don’t lose their viewers and keep things going.’When she was picked to host with Eamonn she couldn’t believe it, not only to anchor one of the biggest shows but to do so alongside such a legend in broadcasting.’Ellie is a sweetheart off-camera and so down to earth. She is often left wondering who will be sitting beside her each morning. It has been extremely stressful.’Before Eamonn’s stroke, some frustrated staff at GB News were of the opinion he should retire following a series of mishaps on air, with my insider telling me some believe he should have ‘bowed out gracefully’ and potentially returned only for special events.Those mishaps include falling off his chair during a live broadcast, shouting over his co-presenters and guests and even telling former pop star Kerry Katona she looked ‘oriental’ after she had had a cosmetic procedure on her eyes – for which he was forced to apologise on-air. Eamonn has suffered a number of mishaps while presenting on GB News, including appearing to nod off on air In June, GB News won its fourth consecutive TRIC award by the Television and Radio Industries Club for Best News Programme. Stephen and Ellie pictured with their award in 2025’We know he is a legend, but it is sad to watch someone decline so much when he should be enjoying his retirement,’ said the source.’Waking up in the early hours of the morning would take its toll on the healthiest of people. Eamonn admittedly loves it, he did the same thing at Sky News for years but it has had an impact. The environment is not conducive to his health and some aren’t sure if he can do the job any more. A lot of staff aren’t happy at the current situation and bosses need to just admit he is not coming back and get to work on bringing other household names over to the channel.’During their time hosting together, Eamonn had been accused of ‘falling asleep’ on air while presenting with Ellie, though he fiercely denied this, insisting that he was checking his microphone.’Eamonn can be extremely difficult to work with, but at the same time the best fun to be around. He’s cheeky and pushes the boundaries with jokes, he’s old school,’ said my source.’But he could be so irritable around staff. He would shout a lot and had a very short temper and people tended to avoid having to interact with him as much as possible.’GB News’s talent crisis means correspondents and reporters are being drafted in to host full programmes, sometimes even two a day, well beyond their experience and pay grade. They include royal correspondent Cameron Walker, national reporter Will Godley and newsreader Bethany Elsey.Another insider, however, points out that many news programmes are subject to on-air staffing changes over the summer period.Ben Leo and Bev Turner, who are both considered to be ‘homegrown talent’, are now based in the US. Among those filling in for Eamonn is Stephen Dixon, his former Sky colleague who usually hosts Breakfast into the weekend.However, the 50-year-old, who has Type 1 diabetes, has been forced to take time off air after he said his body ‘crashed’.’He’s been a workaholic for 35 years, spending 25-plus of them on the 3am to 10am shift, but he has finally crashed,’ his husband Daniel said earlier this week.’For the first time ever at 50, he’s on his first sick note. GB News have been incredibly supportive. He just needs a bit of time to get through this and will be back next week.’My insider said: ‘There is no star talent any more, a lot of the big names have left. Eamonn is on such a big salary because they rely on his notoriety. He has brought a lot of viewers over to the channel but now they risk losing them as he is not on screen.’Bosses have been told countless times they need to replace him as the show can’t remain up in the air for ever. It has been months now. Staff are already stretched as it is, some are having to present two shows in different slots to ensure rolling coverage.’Richard Madeley’s name has popped in the newsroom a few times, he would be a great person to poach from Good Morning Britain and pair with Ellie or just overhaul and relaunch the programme.’A GB News spokesman has now said: ‘These claims are ludicrous and completely untrue. ‘It is preposterous to suggest GB News has barely heard from Eamonn in months.’ GB News is aiming to become the biggest TV news channel in the UK by 2028 and last year marked a major milestone by beating BBC News for the very first time in ratings.In June, it won its fourth consecutive TRIC award by the Television and Radio Industries Club for Best News Programme. Eamonn shared a statement at the time, thanking viewers for voting, and saying how ‘proud he was to be a part of Britain’s favourite news channel’.He added: ‘I’d dearly wished I could have been there to celebrate with the team, but for now my focus has to be on making a full recovery and getting back to my best.’Eamonn has previously shared his frustration at his health woes. His mobility problems first started in 2016, when he underwent a double hip replacement.Though the surgery was successful, he has endured severe and chronic pain since slipping three discs and suffering a dislocated pelvis. He has had spinal surgery and has relied on the use of a wheelchair for the past several years.He is still finalising his divorce from estranged wife Ruth, from whom he split in 2024 following a 27-year relationship, of which they were married for 14 of those.Eamonn’s girlfriend Katie Alexander, who is 22 years his junior, is believed to be supporting him through his recovery.