Ruth Langsford has opened up on how she was 'very nervous' about meeting husband Eamonn Holmes' children.
Speaking on Loose Women on Valentine's Day, the TV presenter chatted with other panel members about the challenges of being a step-parent.
Eamonn and Ruth have a 19-year-old son together named Jack, with Eamonn having three other children from a previous marriage, Declan, Rebecca and Niall who are now also grown-up.
Ruth said: "I have to say, I was very, very nervous about meeting Eamonn's children, I didn't meet them for quite a while, they were about 5, 6 and 8, something like that, they were young.
"I do remember thinking, he's such a devoted father, I do remember thinking, 'if they don't like me, this is doomed'. Quite understandably, they are his number one priority, so I was very nervous.
"But Eamonn was great, he said to me, 'just be yourself and let them come to you, they are very different personalities'. He told me which would would come first, and second and they all absolutely did.
"He said, 'just don't interview them'. Sometimes with children, I can be like, 'what are your favourite sports?...'
The 61-year-old added: "I was just kind of around and eventually they did come. We are all very, very close.
"Also over the years, I have been very mindful of their mother, not ever tried to take that role at all, I was more just a friend, daddy's girlfriend and now wife.
"But I do remember when I thought, the most wonderful moment for me, when I felt 'they really do like me' was when they wanted to come to London for the weekend and Eamonn was working, he was really busy at the time. He said 'well you can come, but I'm not really around, Ruth's here' and they said 'that's fine'.
"It was an acceptance of me, so obviously they saw him but I spent most of that time with them.
"That was a very special moment for me.
"I have had a lot of joy from my step-children and I love them all."
Also on the show, Ruth revealed how she gets 'embarrassed' by husband Eamonn Holmes' romantic nature.
The presenter said the Belfast man enjoys showing affection by saying 'I love you', with words of affirmation as his love language, reports the Mirror.
"I would say that Eamonn's love language is words of affirmation. He's really good at expressing love and saying it all the time, whereas I get very embarrassed.
"I am the acts of service. I cook and I do stuff - that's how I show I love someone," Ruth explained.
