It's time to CELEBRATE

After a tough few months, Ruth Langsford is ready to embrace her favourite time of year

It may be her first Christmas as a single woman since separating from Eamonn Holmes earlier this year, but rather than being down, Ruth is putting her best foot forward and plans to have a good time.

The star, 64, is looking great with a new longer, blonder hairdo and has been hitting the town with pals including Rylan Clark, who posted a picture of a very merry Ruth with two cocktails in hand.

Sharing the night out on Instagram, Rylan wrote that the duo, along with Lizzie Cundy and another friend, had been 'putting the world to rights' and the night ended with champagne back at his place in Essex.

So it seems that after a difficult year by anyone's standards, Ruth is ready to celebrate the next chapter of her life, starting with this Christmas.

Seasonal cheer

Ruth has always made it clear that Christmas is her favourite time of year. "The word "Christmas" makes me happy,' she said. 'It's festive, it's togetherness, it's family.' She also revealed, 'I'm that person that when someone says, "Have you seen? It's ridiculous, such-and-such supermarket has already got their Christmas things in and it's only July," I go. "Oh, have they? Which branch?” And when it comes to decorating, Ruth likes to keep things classic. 'I'm quite traditional. I like the whole red, gold and green theme, and I have favourite decorations, things that we've had for years that you get out every year and it just says "Christmas." She added, 'It's tradition for me to do my Christmas table on Christmas Eve because I don't like rushing it.