Ben Shephard throughout the years – ‘brutal’ sudden sacking to eye-watering TV deal

UK TV veteran and national treasure is celebrating his 50th birthday today (December 11).

The presenter has been a familiar face on screen for decades, but he is best known for hosting a range of prime time ITV programmes, from to hit quiz show .

Following his departure from GMB in early 2024, Ben became the full-time presenter of award-winning daytime programme alongside .

As Ben marks a milestone birthday, Express.co.uk are taking a look back at his stellar career and where it all began.

Channel 4

Ben’s remarkable career began to flourish in 1998 when he made his television debut by hosting ‘s The Bigger Breakfast, a spin-off of the popular morning show from the 1990s.

Teaming up with Josie D’Arby, Melanie Sykes, and , he entertained the nation with light-hearted content before transitioning to T4.

During his time on the children’s television program, Ben cut a much more casual figure, often appearing in hoodies and jeans rather than his signature tailored suits.

His departure from Channel 4 was not as reflective or sentimental as his more recent career transitions, with Ben revealing he was abruptly dismissed after being informed that the collaboration wasn’t working out.

In an interview with OK!, Ben recounted what his boss at the time said to him: “It’s not working, and I don’t think it’s ever going to.”

The termination was reportedly “brutal” as it came completely unexpectedly to the presenter.

Ben said: “I was about 25 and thought I would be with Channel 4 for a few more years.”

It is believed that this harsh dismissal left a lasting impact on him throughout his career, as he has openly expressed doubts about his own abilities.

GMTV

Despite his prior dismissal, Ben’s career continued to grow and he established a connection with ITV in 2000.

Ben joined GMTV, the UK’s leading breakfast programme at the time. He co-hosted Entertainment Today alongside Jenni Falconer and took on the role of the primary stand-in presenter for GMTV Today.

Following ‘ exit from the renowned show, Ben was appointed as the permanent co-host of GMTV Today, appearing every Monday and Tuesday, as well as on alternate Wednesdays.

ITV Primetime

It is unknown whether Ben was aware of where his role on GMTV would take him, but it kickstarted a long-standing relationship with ITV.

The dad-of-two hosted the initial three series of ITV2’s spin-off of The X Factor – The Xtra Factor, as well as The Xtra Factor – Battle Of The Stars in 2004.

Following Kate Thornton’s departure, Ben also bid farewell to the show as Dermot O’Leary bagged the gig as the show’s main presenter.

He went on to become a stand-in presenter on This Morning in 2005 and co-hosted the reality singing competition Soapstar Superstar alongside Fern Britton the following year.

As the new year approached, he co-hosted Dancing On Ice Exclusive in 2007 and was invited to co-present the brief spin-off series, Dancing On Ice Friday, alongside Coleen Nolan in 2010.

Ben quickly established himself as a recognisable figure on television, hosting various specials that celebrated some of Britain’s most cherished musicians and artists, including Rod Stewart: One Night Only in 2009 and Phil Collins: One Night Only in 2010.

His humor and engaging personality won him widespread admiration, leading to his role as the host of the rebooted version of the classic game show The Krypton Factor in 2009 and 2010.

He also co-presented Who Dares, Sings! with Denise Van Outen in 2018.

BBC

Despite being best known for his work with ITV, Ben has also appeared on a number of shows.

Fans may not know that Ben was well-acquainted with the realm of soap operas, having regularly hosted the Choice programme Revealed during the early 2000s.

He became a familiar presence on the network, subsequently presenting DanceX alongside stars Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli, who were both judges at the time.

Between 2008 and 2009, Ben assumed Dermot O’Leary’s role as the host of the National Lottery game show 1 vs 100.

His tenure with the concluded following a guest appearance on A Question Of Sport as a month after this appearance, he announced his departure to focus on opportunities with Sky and ITV.

Sky

Ben reportedly began earning a substantial income in 2010 when he started co-hosting Goals on Sunday alongside his longtime friend Chris Kamara on Sky Sports.

The agreement was said to be valued at £495,000 annually. He departed from the programme in 2019, with reports claiming he wanted to dedicate more time to his family.

The TV star is the proud dad of two sons Sam, 19, and Jack, 15, with wife Annie Perks – who he has been married to since 2004.

He also appeared on Sky Sports 3 and 4, hosting live secondary match coverage of the UEFA Champions League until 2014.

Ben also presented Safebreakers, a technical game show in which two teams are challenged to unlock a safe containing £5,000, but they have only three days to build a suitable vehicle to reach it.

Good Morning Britain

Ben returned to GMTV when the show returned in 2009, teaming up with .

However, his tenure was short-lived, as he announced his departure two months prior to the programme’s cancellation in August 2010.

Ben expressed his desire to dedicate more time to his family and engage in charitable activities, leading to his exit from the show.

Ben became one of the main presenters of Good Morning Britain in 2014 after it replaced Daybreak. He co-hosted the show on Thursdays and Fridays with Kate and before officially departing the role after 10 years in February 2024.

ITV daytime

In 2014, Ben became a stand-in presenter for Eamonn and on This Morning Summer, alongside Ruth Langsford.

Demonstrating his adeptness in the realm of game shows, Ben began hosting Tipping Point in 2012 and continues to hold this position today.

In 2015, he began co-presenting the Saturday night game show Ninja Warrior, working alongside Rochelle Humes and his former Sky Sports colleague Chris Kamara.

Its initial five-season run lasted between 2015 and 2019 before the programme returned to ITV for a single season in 2022.

In February, Ben and Cat Deeley, 47, were unveiled as the new hosts of This Morning, taking over from Phillip and .

Of his new role, Ben said: “This really feels like a very special moment for Cat and I to be part of the next chapter of This Morning.

“It’s an honour to be trusted with the reigns, join Alison and Dermot and all the team that work on and off screen and do such a great job… For the last ten years I’ve been waking up with our ITV daytime audience on GMB and I now look forward to spending time with Cat…”

He added: “Welcoming the viewers home after the school run or from their early morning routines, with a cup of tea and a mix of everything that makes This Morning so loved.”