Sun sets on time as Sunrise presenter for Eamonn Holmes

Eamonn Holmes will present Sky News' flagship breakfast programme Sunrise for the final time on Thursday after 11 years as anchor.

The Northern Irishman, 56, signed a five-year deal to stay with Sky in 2013 amid reports he was being lined up to front ITV's troubled early morning show Daybreak.

However, last month the presenter, who also hosts ITV's This Morning with his wife Ruth Langsford every Friday morning, confirmed his departure from the daily breakfast programme via a post on his Facebook page.

On Wednesday he posted: "The Sun sets for me on Sunrise tomorrow morning after 11 years. I hope you can join me for the last day."

Holmes has presented Sunrise since 2005, following his departure from ITV's GMTV, which he co-hosted for 12 years.

Announcing his departure in September, Holmes said: "I cannot stress how hard it is saying goodbye to such a programme and the friends and colleagues who I have met over the years because of it - but nothing stays the same - nor should it.

"New studios mean a wonderful chance for new ideas and a new approach with new presenters. I hope they enjoy and respect the privilege of hosting Sunrise and waking up Britain and the world as much as I have."

"To those who have worked or woken up with me on Sky News over the years - thank you. I hope you appreciated that I tried to do it differently."

He had to apologise earlier this year after being accused of comparing an attack on the Manchester United team bus by West Ham supporters to the Hillsborough disaster which led to deaths of 96 Liverpool fans.

Holmes will be replaced as anchor by Sarah-Jane Mee, who will be joined by new co-host Jonathan Samuels, currently the senior correspondent for Sky News.

The pair will present Sunrise from a new glass studio in Sky's recently opened workspace, Sky Central, from late October.