11 March 2024 , 08:52
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Ben Shephard is banned from signing up to Strictly Come Dancing, joking his wife "doesn't want him having an affair".
The 49-year-old will take over from Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning with Cat Deeley today. Despite his long-running career as a TV presenter, with the star also fronting poplar quiz show Tipping Point, Ben has been banned from BBC's Strictly Come Dancing by his wife Annie.
Discussing the dance competition with Andi Peters on GMB, he previously quipped: "Andi, I would love to do Strictly. As you know, I spent three years in university learning to dance, I have a degree in dance - it doesn't make me a good dancer, obviously.
"But my wife really doesn't want me to do Strictly, I've spoken about it very publicly, but she's not interested in me having an affair. I think she's being very narrow-minded and it could be a great opportunity, who knows what could happen?"
He continued: "It would be an amazing experience, I love a bit of spangle and glamour on a Saturday night… As things stand though, that's a negotiation that needs to happen between the BBC and my wife. I can get myself into a lot of trouble here!"
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Ben has been banned from Strictly by his wife Annie Perks (Getty Images Europe)
Cat and Ben are the new hosts of This Morning (Getty Images)In 2022, Ben, who studied contemporary dance at the University of Birmingham, explained to the Mirror why he wouldn't be interested in joining Strictly. He said: "Everyone’s got this idea that because I’ve got a dance degree I’d be good on Strictly but I’d be rubbish.
"I did contemporary dance – standing at a bar and rolling around on the floor. It’s not charging across the dance floor doing a quickstep. Lots of my colleagues [Kate Garraway, Susanna Reid, Robert Rinder and Ed Balls] have done it and absolutely loved it. And I’ve worked with Helen [Skelton] over the years – she’s absolute dynamite and an incredible broadcaster and an amazing mum. I’ve loved watching her do something as life-affirming as dancing – I know the joy you get from dancing and the endorphins – so I’ll never say never but now’s not the right time. It’s all-consuming."
Last month, the Mirror exclusively revealed that Ben and Cat will be taking over as permanent hosts following Phillip's departure in May and Holly's exit in October of last year - and the day of their grand takeover has finally arrived.
"I’m a huge fan of Cat’s – she’s just a brilliant broadcaster," said Ben, known for hosting Good Morning Britain. "I loved waking up to her [on SM:TV Live] so the chance to work together is really fun."
Cat, 47, shot to fame on ITV's much loved SM:TV Live, which she presented with Ant and Dec in the late '90s and early '00s. Ben's career took off at the same time, when he began hosting Channel 4's The Bigger Breakfast alongside Dermot O'Leary and Melanie Sykes.
"No one handles live TV better, he makes it look effortless," said Cat, calling Ben a "true gentleman". And while the pair haven't presented together before Ben has played football at ITV's Soccer Aid against Cat's husband, comedian Patrick Kielty.
"I’ve taken a lot of penalties against her husband and he’s yet to save one," said Ben. "It was a charity game with professionals and celebrities," added Patrick, 53. "Ben was fairly nifty and athletic... I, however, was just trying to stay upright."
Cat and Ben are no strangers to This Morning, with both having guest presented over the years. Cat took the helm back in 2003 alongside the late Paul O'Grady, with the pair celebrating Cilla Black's 60th birthday. "There were plenty of bubbles that day," she said.
Ben first hosted the show alongside This Morning legend Fern Britton. "I was a last-minute call-up and I remember sitting on the bus on the way home, daydreaming about the fact I’d just hosted it," he said. "Now, here I am 20 years later and I’m going to be doing it every day."