Ruth Langsford Opens Up About Sister Julia’s Tragic Suicide and Its Lasting Impact
In an emotional interview, Ruth Langsford bravely shared the devastating impact of her beloved sister Julia’s suicide, opening up about the grief that continues to haunt her years later.
The 66-year-old Loose Women star described the deep pain she still feels, revealing that despite years of searching for answers, she has come to the heart-wrenching realization that she will never understand why Julia took her life.
Julia Johnson, 62, who had struggled with depression for many years, was found dead at her home in Lingfield, Surrey, by her husband, Paul, in June 2019. Ruth reflected on the intense sorrow of losing her sister to suicide, acknowledging the unanswerable questions that have followed: “Why? Why? Why?”
In a candid conversation with Fearne Cotton on the Happy Place podcast, Ruth explained: “I think suicide is just… it’s such a tragedy and the people left behind are just left not knowing why. And your question is just: ‘Why? Why? Why? Why?’ And then, as time has gone on, I’ve accepted that I’ll never know why and nothing will bring her back.”
She continued: “The only way that I can make any sense of it and stop it hurting is to just know she didn’t want to be here, and nothing I could have done could have changed that really.”
Ruth spoke about the haunting sense of guilt that many people affected by suicide feel, questioning whether she could have done something to save her sister. “You just think you could have done something. Why didn’t we see it? How could we not have seen it? Why didn’t she talk to us? Why? Why? Why? And there are no answers because she’ll never be able to tell us why.”
The television presenter credited her work for helping her cope with the immense grief, stating: “I just miss her so much but I know she would not want me to have a sad life. I did a lot of crying, I took a lot of time off work. Then I thought [my sister] doesn’t want this for you, you need to get back out there. Work has always been my saviour, actually.”
Ruth has previously described 2019 as “the hardest year” of her life following Julia’s death. She thanked her then-husband, Eamonn Holmes, for his unwavering support during that challenging period. The couple, however, split in 2024 after 14 years of marriage.
In a revealing interview with Best Magazine in 2020, Ruth admitted she nearly walked away from her TV career after the loss of her sister. “It seemed wrong to be cheery on screen, when, inside, my heart was breaking,” she confessed. Despite her devastation, Eamonn encouraged her to return to work, reminding her that she had “so much to live for.”
After a month of overwhelming grief, Ruth said that Eamonn’s support was crucial in helping her find the strength to move forward. “After crying, screaming, and sobbing,” Ruth said, “Eamonn told me I had so much to live for.”
Reflecting further on her journey through grief, Ruth spoke to Kaye Adams on her How to be 60 podcast in 2023, revealing how difficult the years following her sister’s death were. “The hardest year of my life was when my sister died. I can’t even tell you what year it is, because I’ve blocked it from my memory really.”
Ruth explained that in order to cope, she focused on her work and established a strict routine: “I needed a focus, which was – get up and I would cry in the shower – have a big old bawl – and then I could almost cut it off and go: ‘right, come on, time for work, dry your hair, go to work.’ I needed that, because I could lie and cry all day about my sister. I needed that focus and structure back in my life.”
The star also emphasized the importance of not bottling up pain: “You can’t lock your grief in a box,” she said.
In June 2019, just after Julia’s death, Ruth shared a touching tribute on Instagram, posting a picture with her late sister: “My lovely Sis Julia has sadly died after a very long illness. My heart is completely broken. She was the kindest and most gentle soul and I will miss her forever. As I am sure you will appreciate I need to take time to grieve with my family. Thank you for your understanding.”
Ruth’s raw honesty about her sister’s death and her ongoing battle with grief serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting impact suicide can have on those left behind, as well as the importance of finding support during difficult times.
