Eamonn Holmes: ‘I dread to think about the challenges facing my grandchildren’

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes gets out of bed earlier than most – he has been the face of GMTV, Sky News Sunrise and now mornings on GB News. He was also early on the property ladder, getting his own two-bedroom flat with a river view at the tender age of 24.

Sounds simple, right? Not quite…

Did your parents own their home?

Yes. In 1982 one of the most wonderful, positive and status-affirming events took place in my family’s life – my mother and father became property owners. They were in their early fifties yet they had never owned anywhere they’d lived in before. We were renters.

To this day, I remember the rent man calling on a Friday and I also remember the odd time I was told: ‘Eamonn, don’t answer the door if he knocks.’ Once my parents had bought their own place there was none of that.

What was the house like?

We had lived in our council house so long it was offered at a reduced rate under Margaret Thatcher’s Right To Buy Scheme. From memory we were offered it at around £8,000 – about half a day’s pay for the modern Premier League superstar and a total giveaway.

But even at that paltry sum, my dad still had to get a loan from the Credit Union. Myself and my other working brothers chipped in.

When did you buy your first home?

It was a two-bed flat with a view over the River Lagan in Belfast. The year was 1984 and the price was £23,000. My mother never forgave me for moving out of home at the ripe old age of 24. Owning property wasn’t common within my family circle, so it felt great.

What was it like?

It was a new build but it had window problems – they leaked. So I had lovely views but damp under my windowsills inside. I remember never-ending complaints against the builder and them in turn passing the buck to whoever supplied the window frames.

Did it change your life?

Being on the telly since I was 19 years of age, it gave me a certain amount of privacy and shielded me from the public eye. It gave me a foot on the property ladder, too. I believe that the housing crisis is as bad now as it has ever been. It’s hard enough for my children to get on the ladder and I dread to think about the challenges that lie ahead for my grandchildren if we don’t get some kind of a grip on this issue.

What did you do with the place? Are you quite handy with DIY?

Luckily there was nothing to do at the place except furnish it. I’m a bit averse to DIY so I tend to work hard at what I do and pay for somebody who is good at what they do.

What was the first thing you did when you moved in – did you have any wild parties or just kick back?

The first thing I noticed was how lonely it was to live on my own. I wasn’t a party sort of person as I would have been too worried about eejits spilling wine on my new carpet.

What advice would you give to your younger self about buying property?

I’ve never bought well. Being close to transport links, particularly rail lines, is a plus in London. I always preferred trees and open spaces.

Are you a home person these days? Where do you feel happiest?

I feel happiest in Belfast, it’ll probably be where I will retire. My favourite weekend involves being at my home in Belfast. Life is much more social there than in Surrey.

Where would be your dream place to live?

I’m very happy to live somewhere in Northern Ireland with a coastal view. Though Portugal has always been a draw for me, too.