The 57-year-old revealed that her husband was unable to make it into the studio today as he has been struck down with a bad throat.
“Good morning, welcome to Friday’s This Morning,” she greeted viewers.
“Well, they’re dropping like flies in my house. I’ve had Jack off this week with the lurgy and then this morning, Eamonn woke up with no voice.
“He literally can’t speak, he was croaking. He had to write notes. So yeah, he’s off sick today.”
The former Strictly Come Dancing star, who was seated in front of the studio windows alone, continued: “We phoned a few people but it was very short notice.”
But as she revealed she would be presenting on her own, Alison Hammond rushed into the studio with her suitcase.
“Oh hello,” Ruth exclaimed. “You made it. She made it. Alison was just one of the people we called.
“Alison lives in Birmingham. What were you doing?”
“I was getting my son ready for the school run, I popped to the gym as you do,” Alison informed her.
“Then I got a message from my boss saying, ‘Al, can you do the show?’ and I thought about ignoring it.
“But Ruth on her own, it’s not going to happen.”
She went on to say hello to Eamonn, who is said to be watching the show from his sick bed, before asking Ruth: “Is he alright?”
“No, he’s got no voice,” the mother-of-one replied.
Many fans of the ITV show were thrilled that Alison had taken Eamonn’s place, with one viewer tweeting: “My Friday has improved. @AlisonHammond2 is co-host on @thismorning with @RuthieeL NB. Sick note for @EamonnHolmes x #ThisMorning.”
“#ThisMorning Well done @AlisonHammond2 … prob little or no time to be prepped…on air and gets on with it…hats off to you, professional attitude,” another added.
A third continued: “Glad its @AlisonHammond2 YAY!!! #ThisMorning.”
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10.30am.
