HIS last day on Good Morning Britain was an emotional affair, as co-presenters and pals crowded into the studio to pay tribute to Ben Shephard ahead of his move to This Morning.
But it was also notable for a rare appearance from “Mrs Shephard” – the affectionate way Ben has always referred to devoted wife Annie.
While she usually stays out of the spotlight, the interior designer, who has been by the presenter’s side since his university days, has been the power behind his stellar career.
Ben – who will co-present This Morning with Cat Deeley from next week – has credited her with supporting him from his early days as a wannabe weatherman and even preventing him from becoming a stripper.
He told Kate Thornton on her podcast White Wine Question Time: “We met at university – so you knew Annie when I just got into the telly – and I was sort of a mere puppy when it came to the world of broadcasting media.
“She has been through all this with me – the highs and the lows of all that experience. And she is still here, somehow is still putting up with me which to this day, I can’t quite believe that I am extraordinarily lucky.”
Magaluf confession
On his final GMB show Andi Peters recalled giving Ben his first job on T4, and said how pleased he was that the team chose him for the role.
Ben quipped “Not as pleased as Mrs Shephard”.
It’s an indication that Annie is never far from his mind and has been his biggest fan throughout his career.
But before the couple met, Ben had something of a wild side – and he could even be a bit of lad after they got together.
In 2020, he shocked co-presenters Kate Garraway and Susanna Reid by claiming “hasn’t got rid of what he caught” from a “northern girl” during a trip to Magaluf “back in the day.”
Ben said he had an “unforgettable night” experiencing the night life for a BBC holiday programme at the Majorcan resort.
“I went to one of those foam parties in Magaluf once and I’ve not forgotten it. I’ve not got rid of what I caught, either,” he said.
“I was filming for the BBC Holiday programme back in the day. I thought this would be brilliant and it just wasn’t.”
He added: “I seem to remember she was Northern and that’s about all I can remember,” causing Kate to shriek in horror.
Stripper plan
Ben met Annie Perks at the University of Birmingham, where she was studying Philosophy and he was studying Dance, Drama and Theatre Art, with a view to becoming an actor.
He later revealed that his future wife stopped him taking up a sideline as a stripper to earn extra cash to fund his studies.
On GMB, in 2022, he joked he should have been cast in the Channing Tatum film Magic Mike, adding: “I have done that, actually. Me and Sam, my housemate – we decided to get some money. We were going to be strippers at the end of university time.
“We were going to do some of the sports teams’ end-of-season parties to get some money. Annie talked us out of it at the time and… I’m not sure that was such a good idea.
“So that was one thing she stopped me doing and she’s always so encouraging.”
He said the pair got as far as practising their moves “and we were all for it,” before Annie told him: “You are kidding, aren’t you? You know you’re not going to do this. As much as this seems like a really good idea to the two of you, you are not going to do this.”
While the pair were deeply in love, Annie struggled with “heated and engaged” arguments”
“It took Annie a long time to understand that it didn’t mean we hated each other. It just meant that we were particularly passionate about whatever it was we were discussing.”
Ben was slow to propose – taking nine years – but the pair, who live in Richmond, West London, tied the knot on a private island in south Devon, in 2004.
Romantic Ben took his wife back to the Art Deco hotel near the small seaside village of Bigbury-on-Sea, for their 18th wedding anniversary – and were served by the same cocktail waiter Gary.
Four years earlier, after 15 years of marriage, he posted a loving tribute to his wife joking that it had “only taken 9 years’ to propose” because “you can’t rush these things”.
“I’m still not sure quite how I managed to persuade her to put up with me, but I’m very glad that I did,” he wrote. “She still hasn’t worked out that there’s far better options out there!!!,’ he added.”
As Ben made his way in broadcasting, joining a local weather network as a student and then being encouraged by a producer to become a television presenter, Annie has quietly forged her own path.
She worked for fashion and interior magazines including House and Garden, Glamour, Elle Deco and Red before branching out as an interior designer in her own right, launching her own business, The House Editor.
The couple have two sons, Sam, 18, and Jack, 16, and post regular pictures of family outings, including walks around local parks and birthday parties.
I’m still not sure quite how I managed to persuade her to put up with me, but I’m very glad that I did.
Ben Shephard
Although they enjoy the occasional exotic holiday, they are most at home by the sea in Devon and Cornwall, where the family all love the sport of Coaststeering – rock-climbing and cliff jumping.
In one holiday post, from 2021, he joked: “She may look great in a wet suit and hard helmet coasteering – but she scrubs up ok out of the water too!”
Although he rarely speaks about the boys he has said: “Jack is much smaller, but he is the emotional one and the one who will explode. Sam is a lot more gentle.”
In July, Ben congratulated her on winning a prestigious award for one of her gardening designs after completing a course on horticulture.
He wrote: “#Proud husband post!
“She has worked so hard over the last year, I couldn’t be more proud of her and excited for what comes next.”
He added: “It’s been great to see her so inspired and motivated, not gonna lie the boys are delighted that they won’t have to rely on their old man for food, drinks and general logistics now mum has graduated- everyone is relieved about that!!”
Strictly ban
Ben has always hankered after a stint on Strictly, following in the footsteps of GMB co-stars Susanna and Kate, but Annie’s has banned him – because of the Strictly curse.
“I would love to do Strictly,” he has said. “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.”
He added: “I think she’s being very narrow-minded and it could be a great opportunity, who knows what could happen?
“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!”
Despite a recent joke that he got to become a national treasure because he “slept with all the right people,” Annie and Ben have remained one of the most solid couples in TV.
Fittingly, she was waiting in the wings today as he took the next leap in his glittering career, ahead of his move to This Morning.
Once again, she will be proud of the man who swept her off her feet as a baby-faced student – and she has been by his side on every step since.
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