Ruth Langsford was forced to pull out of 'This Morning Live' because of a mystery "family illness".

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford

The 57-year-old television presenter was due to appear at the live event in Birmingham on Sunday (21.05.17) alongside her husband and 'This Morning' co-presenter Eamonn Holmes - with whom she has 15-year-old son Jack - but took to Twitter shortly before the start of the show to tell her fans that a mystery sickness in her family meant she had to be "elsewhere".

She wrote on the micro-blogging site: "So sorry I can't be on stage with Eamonn @This Morning Live today - a family illness means I have to be elsewhere. I hope you understand x (sic)"

Eamonn, 57, was instead joined on stage by Rylan Clark-Neal, who presented the ITV daytime show with Ruth for 10 weeks when Eamonn had time away from the programme and regularly fronts the showbiz news segment.

Rylan tweeted about the schedule change: "Due to a change in the schedule am on my way back to Birmingham to host #TMLive with @EamonnHolmes . Round 3. Let's have ya! (sic)"

To which Eamonn replied: "Now there's a Sunday Bonus ! Looking forward to it mate. (sic)"

A spokesperson for 'This Morning Live' was reportedly unable to offer any further information, and told local newspaper the Birmingham Mail: "Unfortunately due to family illness, Ruth isn't able to attend today."

Ruth and Eamonn - who married in 2010 - currently host the programme on Fridays, during school holidays, and when usual presenters Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby are absent.

'This Morning Live' ran from Thursday (18.05.17) to Sunday, and whilst Philip and Holly presented the programme - which was broadcast from inside Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC) - on Thursday and Friday, Eamonn and Ruth were supposed to take the reins over the weekend.