Can it really be 22 years since Ben Shephard first appeared on our TV screens? He started out in 1998 hosting The Bigger Breakfast with Dermot O’Leary and Melanie Sykes, and is now the chipper ying to Piers Morgan’s waspish yang on Good Morning Britain.
Lockdown restrictions have meant big changes at work for Ben, 44, who has learnt to wield his own make-up brush.
The pandemic has touched him personally with Derek Draper, husband of GMB colleague Kate Garraway, in hospital with coronavirus since April. “Kate’s been phenomenal, she’s an incredible person,” Ben says of his close friend.
Concerned viewers recently pointed out how tired Ben himself looked on screen but he pointed out, “Well, I am! You go on [TV] first thing in the morning, you’re knackered.”
Ben, who also presents Ninja Warrior and Tipping Point, shares his stunning family home with Annie, his wife of 16 years, and their sons Sam, 14, and Jack, 13. His garden, complete with “gin bench” and pristine lawn, often features on Instagram and is like a scene from the Chelsea Flower Show!
Last year he quit Goals On Sunday after nine years for the sake of Sam and Jack. “My boys are at an age when they need me around, perhaps even more now than when they were younger,” he explained.
Here, Ben chats about taming his impatience, life in lockdown and competition with his sons…
Is it a struggle getting camera-ready for GMB at the moment?
This story is from the June 9, 2020 edition of OK! UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 9, 2020 edition of OK! UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
There's a holiday for every budget to be found in Dubai, as OK!'s Faith Richardson discovered
'Christmas is a double whammy'
Chef James Martin on the pressures of dividing his time between his restaurants and his family over the festivities
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for people-pleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
'There's a bit of faking it until you make it'
Actor Paul Mescal on entering the Gladiator II arena, building a blockbuster body for his role as fighter Lucius Verus, and heading up an A-list cast of Hollywood's finest stars
THE A-LIST HAIL HOLLYWOOD'S BIG HITTERS
A line-up of the film world's best-known faces attended this year's Governors Awards to celebrate lifetime achievements
'I think we arrived right on time'
The stars of the long-awaited film Wicked, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, tell us why its themes are so relevant right now and why the musical is so dear to their hearts
'No one knows who I am'
Having first found fame on social media, GK Barry has become the breakout star of this year's I'm A Celebrity
'I still pinch myself about how we met'
Now legally married, MAFS Uk’s Adam and Tayah Aveling are looking forward to Christmas with their daughter and welcoming baby number two in 2025
THE ROYAL WEEK
It was a sad week for Queen Camilla, but a good week for the royal family’s charities with visits to hospitals and homeless centres
WILLIAM AND KATE'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
After a challenging year for the royal family, the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to give their children an unforgettable time filled with fun and festivities
