Ben Shephard paid tribute to his ITV colleague who he has worked with since the early 2000s
This Morning host Ben Shephard bid an emotional farewell to an ITV colleague on Wednesday’s show.
During the latest episode, Ben, 50, and co-host Cat Deeley got stuck into guest Sara Davies’ Christmas crafts.
However, Ben suffered a hilarious crafting blunder as he didn’t realise that the paper Christmas trees had to be closed upon glueing.
This prompted a giggling Ben to say: “Darren’s on camera four, it’s Darren’s last week with me” to which Cat responded: “Aw!”
Ben continued: “Darren and I have worked together since early 2000s and he’s just watched me there, just in fits of hysterics, because you knew this was going to happen didn’t you Darren” to which the camera panned onto an amused Darren.
It comes as Tuesday’s This Morning saw Cat missing – and replaced at the last minute.
The 49-year-old normally presents from Monday to Thursday alongside her co-host, former GMB presenter Ben.
However, viewers were instead greeted by Ben – alongside fellow This Morning star Alison Hammond, 50, on Tuesday’s show, a show first for the presenting duo which left fans delighted.
The hosting pair gave a nod to the clear change in presenting line-up, pointing out it was their first time hosting together on This Morning yet neither of them explained what had actually happened to Cat or why she was absent.
Ben simply said: “How about this, Alison Hammond”, to which the telly favourite replied: “What am I doing here, what is going on?”
He replied: “Christmas wishes do come true, that’s all I’ll say. Our first time together – you never forget your first time, Alison.”
To which Alison added: “It was bound to happen, it was always going to happen.”
However, Cat was back to her hosting duties on Wednesday and didn’t provide viewers with an explanation for her brief absence from the show on Tuesday’s edition.
Ben and Cat have been hosting This Morning together since 2024, replacing former hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
On Friday’s This Morning is hosted by Alison and Dermot O’Leary.
This Morning continues on weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV X.
