Eamonn Holmes couldn’t help but slip in a cheeky comment about his and Ruth Langsford’s reduced This Morning roles as the couple hosted their final Friday episode.

The pair are stepping down from their regular slot on Friday mornings after 15 years to make way for new presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, and will instead now only host the ITV daytime show during the school holidays.

Although the husband and wife pairing have been gracious about the changes, Eamonn made a joke about the situation as he and Ruth opened Friday’s episode.  

Near the start of the show, Eamonn turned to Ruth and said: “Do you know what I saw yesterday? Outside the opticians was a man selling Christmas trees, discounting them by half price.′

Ruth responded: “They’re struggling to get rid of them, I suppose.”

Eamonn then said: “I would say so darling. That’s the obvious conclusion. Which is why they’re getting rid of us on a Friday after all this sort of chat.”

Ruth quickly shut her husband down, telling him to “stop it!”.

At the end of the live broadcast, Ruth and Eamonn called for This Morning viewers to make Alison and Dermot feel as welcome as they’d made them each Friday, as they revealed they now will not be on air until the February half term. 

“You won’t be watching us anymore on a Friday,” Eamonn told viewers. “Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary – they’re going to be here on Fridays from here on in.

“And please, we would ask you, to be as nice and lovely to them – as they are friends of ours, and we’re very close to Alison – as you have been to us for the past 15 years.

“We appreciate all the love you have sent us today, we send it all back to you.  Have a very Merry Christmas whatever you’re doing, it’s been lovely having you.”

Ruth added: “You haven’t got rid of us, we’re back for half term. It’s been a tricky year for everybody, we hope we’ve helped you through it a little bit and thank you for all you support. 

“Have a very Merry Christmas, and see you in February!”

After the episode, Eamonn tweeted: “Bye bye to you all on a Friday folks…

“Hopefully see u next February for half-term This Morning. Thanks for having us and please have a safe and Merry Christmas.”

The couple’s friend and fellow ITV daytime star Gloria Hunniford previously claimed Eamonn and Ruth were finding it “very difficult to understand” why bosses have made the decision to reduce their presenting role.

Speaking to The Mirror, the Loose Women panellist said: “That one was very hard to understand – I don’t fully understand the reasons behind it.

“I’ve talked to Eamonn since, and he’s clearly disappointed.

“I think they find it very difficult to understand why the change.” 

Her comments come after Eamonn and Ruth publicly congratulated Alison and Dermot on their new Friday roles on social media, following the announcement last month.

Alison and Dermot, who proved to be a hit with viewers when they teamed up to present two shows together over the summer, will take the reins of Friday’s This Morning from 8 January.

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield will continue to present the show from Monday to Thursday, except for school holidays.

This year, the pair will also be hosting a special pre-recorded Christmas edition of This Morning, as the show airs on 25 December for the first time in its 32-year history. 

This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.