Eamonn Holmes makes first public appearance since revealing he had contracted Covid-19

Eamonn Holmes was at the premiere of the movie Belfast at the Northern Ireland capital’s Waterfront Hall on Thursday

Eamonn Holmes stepped out at the premiere of Belfast in the movie’s namesake city on Thursday nine days after revealing he had contracted Covid-19.

The presenter, 61, announced he had contracted the virus last Tuesday despite being double jabbed. He said at the time that he was “coping with the symptoms and effects well”.

He was back on home soil for the movie showing and looked to be in good spirits as he made his way down the red carpet in his home city having completed his isolation period.

The star used a walking stick as he sported a stylish navy blue suit with a navy patterned tie, white shite and white pocket square.

A spokesman told MailOnline: “Eamonn has tested negative both before leaving England and arriving in Belfast.

“He passed his lateral flow test and all the requirements as laid down by The Belfast Film Festival for which the opening film was tonight.”

He was in attendance at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall for the premiere of the film at Belfast Film Festival.

The drama which is set in the late 1960s in the Northern Irish capital is directed by Kenneth Branagh.

It is a semi-autobiographical film inspired by the BAFTA winner’s early childhood growing up surrounded by a large family in Northern Ireland.

It’s billing reads: “Chronicling the life of a working class family and their young son’s childhood during the troubles in Belfast, Northern Ireland in the late 1960s.”

It has a star-studded cast, including Jamie Dornan and Dame Judi Dench.

Eamonn revealed he had Covid last month in a message on Twitter.

The presenter apologised for not being available for work and personal events while he recovered at home.

He wrote: “Covid finally caught me. Thankfully I’m double jabbed. More than halfway through my isolation and coping with the symptoms and effects well…

“Unfortunately I’m going to be a No Show for some Professional & Personal events. Just want to let everyone know why & offer my apologies.”

Eamonn is also to return “home” to Northern Ireland for Christmas as he and wife Ruth Langsford look set to spend the festive season apart.

The duo have been together for 25 years but are to spend Christmas in different countries as they both want to be with their ageing mothers.

Eamonn said: “We have this issue now, in that we’ve got a sea dividing us. We often have a dilemma of whether I go to Belfast, whether Ruth comes with me.

“But Ruth wants to be with her mum. My mother is 93 this year. It’s easier for us often to be apart.”