Ben Shephard

Benjamin Peter Sherrington Shephard (born 11 December 1974) is an English television presenter and journalist who is currently employed by ITV. He was a main presenter on the now defunct breakfast programme '' GMTV'' and since April 2014 has co-hosted the ITV breakfast show '' Good Morning Britain'' alongside Susanna Reid, Kate Garraway and Charlotte Hawkins. He has also hosted game shows such as '' The Krypton Factor'' (2009–2010), '' Tipping Point'' (2012–present) and ''Ninja Warrior UK'' (2015–2019; 2022–present).

In 2012, along with Helen Skelton, he welcomed the athletes of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to Trafalgar Square as part of their homecoming parade.

Early life and education

Shephard was educated at Chigwell School, an independent school in the civil parish of Chigwell in the Epping Forest area of Essex, followed by the University of Birmingham, where he achieved a BA honours degree in Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts. Initially wanting to become an actor, while at university he joined a local weather network through a casting process and then became a runner (the most junior member of a television crew), before being encouraged to become a television presenter by a producer.

Career

Channel 4

Shephard's career took off in 1998, when he began hosting Channel 4 spin-off show ''The Bigger Breakfast'', alongside fellow presenters including Josie D'Arby, Melanie Sykes and Dermot O'Leary. That same year, Shephard became the first presenter of T4's teen strand on Channel 4, which launched on 25 October 1998. He also presented ''Control Freaks'' for the channel in 1998.

Shephard returned to Channel 4 in 2013 to co-present cookery programme called '' What's Cooking?''. He hosted one series, alongside Lisa Faulkner, and then permanently left Channel 4 on 24 May 2013.

ITV

Between 2004 and 2006, Shephard presented the first three series of ITV2 spin-off programme '' The Xtra Factor'', whilst Kate Thornton hosted the main show on ITV While hosting the show, Shephard also starred in '' The Xtra Factor – Battle of the Stars''. He left the show after three series after missing out on the main presenting role (which went to Dermot O'Leary after the departure of original host Kate Thornton); he was replaced by Fearne Cotton.

Between 2005 and 2011, Shephard was a stand-in presenter on '' This Morning'', covering for regular presenter Phillip Schofield. In 2014, Ben was a stand-in presenter on '' This Morning Summer'', co-hosting one episode alongside Ruth Langsford. Since 2015, he has been a regular stand-in presenter for Schofield and Eamonn Holmes.

In 2006, Shephard co-presented reality singing contest ''Soapstar Superstar'' alongside Fern Britton. The programme returned the following year in 2007, without Shephard as the host. In 2007, Shephard co-hosted '' Dancing on Ice Exclusive'', a spin-off series which aired on ITV.

In 2008, Shephard co-presented '' Who Dares, Sings!'' with Denise van Outen.

Shephard has hosted numerous music specials on the channel, celebrating some of Britain's best-loved musicians. These shows were '' Rod Stewart: One Night Only'', which aired on 5 December 2009 and '' Phil Collins: One Night Only'', which aired the following year on 18 September 2010.

In 2009, ITV revived the classic game show '' The Krypton Factor'', with Shephard chosen to present the new series. Following the success of the first series in 2009, he was asked to present a second series the following year. In 2010, Shephard co-presented a short-lived show called '' Dancing on Ice Friday'' alongside Coleen Nolan. The show was a spin-off from the main '' Dancing on Ice'' show.

Shephard has presented the popular daytime game show '' Tipping Point'' since 2012, as well as celebrity episodes known as '' Tipping Point: Lucky Stars'' since 2013. In June 2015, it was announced that ''Tipping Point'' had been renewed for two further series to air in 2016 and 2017.

Shephard co-presented two episodes of the factual series ''Mystery Map'' with Julia Bradbury, which aired for two episodes on 20 November 2013 and 27 November 2013 respectively.

Since 2015, Ben has co-presented the Saturday night game show ''Ninja Warrior UK'' for ITV. He presents the show alongside Rochelle Humes and Chris Kamara. The first series began airing on 11 April 2015 and a second series began on 2 January 2016. A third series of ''Ninja Warrior UK'' began on 31 December 2016.

ITV Breakfast

Shephard joined the long-running programme '' GMTV'' in 2000 where he presented '' Entertainment Today'' alongside Jenni Falconer. He also became the main relief presenter for ''GMTV Today''. Due to the departure of Eamonn Holmes in April 2005, Shephard became Fiona Phillips' co-host on ''GMTV Today'', presenting on Mondays, Tuesdays and alternate Wednesdays. He continued to present ''Entertainment Today'', but began to share duties with Michael Underwood. When '' GMTV'' relaunched in January 2009, his main co-host became Kate Garraway, presenting on Monday, Tuesday and alternate Wednesdays.

On 30 June 2010, Shephard announced his departure from '' GMTV'', two months before the end of the programme, stating that he wished to spend more time with his family and focus on his charity work. Ben presented his final episode of GMTV on 30 July 2010, before the programme was axed two months later in September. The show was later replaced by '' Daybreak'' hosted Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley and then later by Lorraine Kelly, Kate Garraway and Aled Jones.

After just four years on air, ''Daybreak'' was axed in spring 2014 to make way for a brand new ITV Breakfast programme '' Good Morning Britain''. It was announced on 3 March 2014, that Shephard would be a presenter on the newly launched programme. Shephard's first show was on 28 April 2014 and he currently hosts the show on Thursdays and Fridays alongside Susanna Reid (Thursday) and Kate Garraway (Friday).

Starting 29 October 2019, Shephard will host Rugby X on ITV4.

Sky

On 27 July 2010, Shephard announced that he had signed a new contract with Sky Sports, where he presented ''Goals on Sunday'' alongside Chris Kamara in a deal reportedly worth £495,000 a year. He also hosted live secondary match coverage of the UEFA Champions League on Sky Sports 3 or 4, while the main coverage on Sky Sports 1 is hosted by Jeff Stelling. He was the main anchor for Sky Sports coverage of the League Cup. As of April 2014, Shephard only presented ''Goals on Sunday'' for Sky Sports and no longer hosted any of the live matches.

In 2011, Shephard fronted an eight-part game show for Sky1 called '' Safebreakers''.

As of 28 June 2019, Shephard quit Goals on Sunday in order to spend time with his family.

BBC

In the earlier 2000s, Shephard was a regular presenter of BBC Choice's ''EastEnders Revealed'' program. In 2007, Shephard presented the BBC
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