Eamonn Holmes has addressed his absence from the TRIC Awards after being unable to attend due to ill health. The broadcaster expressed his gratitude to viewers following GB News' triumph in securing the Award for Best News Programme for the fourth year running at the annual ceremony.

Eamonn was absent from the event after suffering a stroke in April. He has endured ongoing health challenges in recent years, undergoing operations on both hips to ease chronic pain in his hip, leg, and back in 2016. Subsequently, he tumbled down the stairs and fractured his shoulder. He then contracted a painful infection and later experienced serious spinal complications that resulted in bladder and bowel difficulties and a nine-day hospitalisation. In 2022, he suffered a further fall.

In a message to GB News viewers today (June 24), he said: "I'd just like to say a huge thank you to all the viewers who took the time and trouble to vote. To win for the fourth time in a row is unbelievable, and I'm so proud to be a part of Britain's number one news channel."

While he had hoped to attend, he explained his priority was on getting better. 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 thanked those who had sent him well wishes during his health struggles, adding: "I'd also like to thank everyone who has sent their kind get-well messages. They really do mean the world to me."

At yesterday's TRIC Awards, Anne Diamond took to the stage at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, where she informed those in attendance of Eamonn's absence.

She said: "There are a couple of people who would love to be here but can't. Eamonn Holmes is not very well at the moment but he is doing well, he is recovering and we hope he will be back with us very soon."

Eamonn suffered a stroke earlier this year, and at the time his son Declan released a statement thanking supporters for their kind words, acknowledging that his father's health struggles had come as a "real shock".

"I just wanted to share a quick message to say we hugely appreciate all the messages, it means a lot to us as a family. What happened came as a real shock, but dad is doing OK given the circumstances and we're taking it one step at a time. For now, we're focused on him and keeping things steady around him," he said in a statement at the time.