Ben Shephard's life from Emmerdale link and university sweetheart to health woes
Best known for his long-standing stint on Good Morning Britain, ITV favourite Ben Shephard bid farewell to the breakfast show at the start of 2024.
Since waving goodbye, the 50-year-old has teamed up with Cat Deeley to become a new favourite on This Morning, hosting the crowd-pleaser at the week's outset while Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary take over on Fridays.
Yet the TV personality continues to grace TV screens as the host of Tipping Point, another much-loved ITV quiz show which is now celebrating an impressive 13-year run since its debut on July 2, 2012.
As we honour this significant milestone in Ben's career, let's delve into his life beyond the bright studio lights.
Crippling health battle
In recent years, Ben disclosed a deeply challenging health issue – a slipped disc from back in 2018 that necessitated pain relief medications, leaving him feeling "in a daze".
In 2021 Ben was faced with another unfortunate event, where he sustained a severe knee injury during a football match, leading to a ruptured ACL, torn meniscus, and even a fractured leg, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Now, the ITV star has embraced functional fitness within his exercise regime, revealing to Men's Health Magazine the crucial impact of his physical woes.
He confessed: "My back is in a state and my knees are in a state. I'm a lot more conscious of my need to apply functional fitness in my training.
"I don't want to be in a position where I can't play golf with my sons and my mates."
He added poignantly: "I don't want to be unable to go skiing with the boys, which I love doing, or play football, I'm just so scared of doing my knee again."
Soap link
This Morning viewers were left gobsmacked when Emmerdale star Beth Cordingly, who portrays Ruby Miligan, revealed that she and presenter Ben shared a blast from the past.
The pair both attended the University of Birmingham, with Beth studying English and Drama and Ben diving into Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts, despite being in different years.
During a nostalgic exchange, the duo reflected on their university days as a youthful snap of Ben flashed across the screen.
With a chuckle, Ben reminisced: "It was like one big, happy family," and Beth chimed in: "You were this interesting mix because you were big in the rugby thing... It must have been some sort of 70s thing."
Ben responded: "We had all of these incredibly talented actors and I was in the dance department, and it was just a brilliant and extraordinary time."
Young love
University days weren't just about acting for Ben; it's where he met his future wife, Annie, who at the time led the Philosophy and Epistemology society and was studying Philosophy.
The couple started dating in 1995 and after nine years together, walked down the aisle in 2004.
They are now proud parents to two boys, Sam and Jack, who often feature in Ben's stories on This Morning.
Reflecting on Annie's unwavering support, Ben once told the Lancashire Post in 2013: "My wife has to put up with a lot, in regards to hours and the nature of my job."
Annie has carved out her own niche of success with her acclaimed blog The House Editor, dishing out interior design tips and inspiration to her many followers.
In a previous heartfelt conversation on This Morning, Ben spoke candidly about a landmark moment for his family when his son Jack flew the coop to start university.
During the emotional discussion on the programme, Ben shared: "It was all very emotional. This was him and Annie, he's in Bristol. She was better than I was to be fair, I was really really emotional about it."
Tipping Point is available to watch on ITVX.
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