Northern Ireland

Eamonn Holmes apologises after comparing black co-host's hair to an alpaca's

Eamonn Holmes compared This Morning resident GP Dr Zoe Williams' hair to an alpaca's
Eamonn Holmes compared This Morning resident GP Dr Zoe Williams' hair to an alpaca's Eamonn Holmes compared This Morning resident GP Dr Zoe Williams' hair to an alpaca's

EAMONN Holmes was today forced to apologise after making comments some deemed "racist" about a co-presenter.

The Belfast-born former Sky News anchor faced backlash when he made remarks about the programme's resident doctor's Zoe Williams' hair.

During today’s edition of the ITV daytime show, Holmes spoke to the GP via video-link, where she said they’d be involved in a discussion about how gardening and keeping alpacas can both have health benefits.

“Your hair reminds me of an alpaca today,” he said on air. “You just want to pet it, don’t you? It’s very alpaca-ish.”

After laughing off the remark, the GP then told him: “Don’t touch my hair!”

Shortly afterwards, footage of the exchange was circulated on social media, with many viewers criticising the presenter for his inappropriate comments about a black colleague’s hair.

Holmes subsequently issued a response on Twitter, telling his followers: “Hey everyone out there. If my attempt at being humorous with my friend @DrZoeWilliams was misjudged I am mortified and humbly apologise to anyone who was offended.”

The This Morning presenter, who co-hosts the show alongside wife Ruth Langford, is no stranger to on-air controversy.

Last year, he was heavily criticised for describing Meghan Markle as "awful, woke, weak, manipulative [and] spoilt" on his talkRadio show.

“I’ve never met her – but I look at her and I think ‘I don’t think I’d like you in real life’,” he said.

Early in the pandemic, he also sparked a response from Ofcom when his comments about a debunked 5G conspiracy theory incited hundreds of complaints to the TV watchdog.