Eamonn Holmes ‘plans to use axe from This Morning in his appeal over a £250,000 tax bill’ 

Eamonn Holmes will reportedly use his axe from This Morning in his appeal over a £250,000 tax bill.

The TV presenter, 61, and his wife Ruth Langsford were dropped from their Friday slot after 14 years on the ITV show and replaced with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

According to The Sun, Eamonn plans on using the axe as evidence his job was never secure in the first place and therefore should be paid as a freelancer.

The appeal comes after a ruling that presenters should be classed as employees, meaning they would have to pay more tax.

A source told the publication: ‘Eamonn argued all along his job could disappear at any time. Now he has proof. While it is upsetting, it has brought new hope he can win his appeal.’

Eamonn previously defended his case last year and said as a freelancer, he was entitled to receive his TV payments through his limited company. 

The move meant he paid corporation tax at 19 per cent rather than paying income tax at 45 per cent if he was classed as an employee. 

However, HRMC has argued the broadcaster owes seven years worth of taxes at the higher rate.

The source added: ‘A lot of people in showbiz will be watching this with keen interest, and hoping that Eamonn can win.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Eamonn Holmes for comment. 

It was revealed on 30 November that Ruth and Eamonn, who fill in for Holly and Phillip on Fridays, had been cut from their weekly slot to be replaced with Alison and Dermot. 

The two stars both sent out an identical statement which read: ‘It’s a changing of the guard on Fridays from January. We hope you make Alison and Dermot as welcome as you’ve made us over the years. ‘Have a Ball you two!…

‘It’s not Goodbye from us, it’s simply Au Revoir until the next half term.’

Breaking her silence on the shake-up following weeks of speculation, Alison, said in a statement: ‘I never dreamt that when I first joined This Morning – initially for a few months – that I would still be there 19 years later. 

‘I genuinely care about the show and the viewers who watch, so it’s a huge privilege and honour to be hosting a show I adore so much. I’m just really excited to be doing even more of what I love alongside the lovely Dermot.’ 

Sharing his own statement, co-host Dermot said: ‘I’m deeply thrilled and honoured to be joining the This Morning team next year. We have huge shoes to fill and we are well aware what a privilege it is to be stepping into them.

‘Above all, we want to have fun and for you to be able to kick your weekend off with a smile, especially given the year we’ve all had.

‘So I’m delighted to be co-hosting with the living embodiment of sunshine on a rainy day. I can’t wait to get started.’

It came after Alison revealed that presenters on This Morning aren’t the best of friends, amid claims she’s locked in a feud with Ruth and Eamonn. 

In an interview conducted before the shakeup was revealed, Alison claimed that only main hosts Holly and Phillip are off-camera pals.

The TV personality, who attended Ruth and Eamonn’s 2010 wedding, told The Sun: ‘We’re not on top of each other, do you know what I mean?

‘Phillip and Holly, they go on holiday together. They genuinely love each other, in a brother and sister way.

‘But literally when we finish everyone wants to go home to their families and see them. We’ve got it just right I think. But no they all go and do their own thing.’