Ben Shephard’s loving tribute to Kate Garraway despite ‘trying to get him sacked’
Ben Shephard has shared a tribute to his Good Morning Britain co-presenter after he announced he was leaving the ITV breakfast show to concentrate on filming Tipping Point
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Ben Shephard has paid a loving tribute to his Good Morning Britain co-presenter, Kate Garraway, on the day he announced he was leaving the show for a while.
The 45-year-old TV personality had been upping his presenting duties on the ITV breakfast show while Piers Morgan took holiday but he has announced that he will be leaving himself.
This has come just weeks after Kate Garraway made an emotional return to the show after stepping down from her presenting duties in March while her husband, Derek Draper, was hospitalised in intensive care with coronavirus.
Kate announced on Wednesday’s GMB that it was Ben’s last show for a while as he was going to concentrate on another ITV project for the next month or so.
Ben will be filming afternoon gameshow Tipping Point into September as he said that the production crew had configured the studio to ensure social distancing could be adhered to.
Before leaving for the last time for a while, Ben shared a selfie with Kate behind the scenes and wrote a glowing tribute to his colleague, who he has supported while her husband battles for his life.
Ben wrote: “Ahh there’s nothing quite like working with @kategarraway have loved having her back in the studio – although still not sure about her ‘a warm Shephard oozing all over you’ comment.
“Thank you for all your messages, despite Kate trying to get us both sacked.”
Ben continued: “Just off to catch up with series 11 of @itvtippingpoint which was put on hold because of Covid.
“Anyway will be back with Kate in the GMB studio in September for more of the same!!”
Ben had previously shared an embarrassing secret about his friendship with Kate.
He told Sunday Mirror last year that he used to live near Kate and would pop in to see her for a cup of tea.
One visit he was locking up his bike outside and looked into Kate’s kitchen window as it was in her basement.
Suddenly, a naked person walked into the kitchen – and horrified Ben quickly realised it was his pal Kate.
The shocked presenter said: “Kate had obviously gone home and had a sleep. Suddenly someone nude walked into the kitchen and I looked up and it was Kate. And she was topless.
“I kind of stopped. I was transfixed.”
Ben was almost paralysed to the spot and did not want to move in case she saw him.
Thinking it would be too embarrassing to explain what happened, Ben lowly undid his bike chain then cycled off in a “hot sweat”.
Ben said: “I sort of froze, panicked… walked away really embarrassed. It became a thing in my head… I couldn’t tell her.”
When confused Kate asked when he was coming over, nervous Ben claimed he had “just got a bit tied up”.
Ben kept this to himself for nearly 20 years, until he let it slip.
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