Ben Shephard has spoken about how he has changed over the years, with The Summit presenter opening up a little more about the dynamic within his marriage to Annie
Presenter of ITV’s This Morning Ben Shephard has said he is “ruthless” in sticking to one rule in his and wife Annie’s family life.
Ben, 51, made the admission after talking about how important his wife had been to him. Ben has been married to Annie for over 20 years and together they share two sons, Sam, 21, and Jack, 19.
Speaking with The Big Issue about what he would tell his younger self, and what would surprise younger Ben about current Ben, The Masked Singer star said it would be how strict he is about dirty laundry.
He said: “Probably that my bed is made and I get really annoyed that my boys don’t put their pants in the wash basket.
“I was not a particularly tidy teenager and now my teenage boys would argue that I’m the most ruthless when it comes to keeping bedrooms tidy.
“So that would be quite a sea change. I think my final words for my younger self would be just put your washing in the basket and be nicer to your old man.”
Before this, Ben said how much he values his life with his wife Annie. He said: “I am very aware that in my relationship, my wife is the most important person. I have learned more from her than anyone in my life.”
Ben has previously has talked lovingly about his partner in recent weeks, despite admitting they often live separate lives due to work commitments.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said that Annie, an interior designer, feels content while spending time alone.
He explained: “Annie is much more solitary than me. She’s much happier in her own company. Half the time she’s like ‘I need a bit of space. Can you leave me alone for five seconds, please?’.”
However, Ben was quick to point out how Annie is the most important factor in their family and that they enjoy spending time together whenever they can.
He added: “We do live quite separate lives. I’m off working, she has her job, which is garden and interior design. If I’ve got spare time I want to do something physical.”
Ben currently hosts The Summit, a new ITV show in which 14 contestants try to reach the top of a mountain on New Zealand’s South Island, with competitors aiming to win a share of a £200,000 prize.