Ben Shephard’s Midlife Crisis: The Traumatic TV Gig That Led to Sleepless Nights
For decades, the familiar 3:30 am alarm was a constant companion for Ben Shephard, the seasoned presenter known for his energetic presence on shows like Good Morning Britain. Now, at 51, he’s finally savouring the luxury of a “lie-in” after a significant career shift. However, it wasn’t the early starts that truly tested his mettle; it was a recent, unexpected venture that plunged him into a period of anxiety and sleepless nights, pushing him far beyond his comfort zone.
Shephard, a father of two, confessed that while the adrenaline rush of live television is undeniably addictive, his participation in the popular singing competition, The Masked Singer, proved to be a source of profound nerves. Competing as the enigmatic “Conkers” and ultimately finishing as runner-up, the experience brought him face-to-face with his own self-doubt.
“Doing live TV is the most joyous thing in the world because no one can make you do it again,” Shephard explained in an exclusive interview. “But it also comes with the jeopardy that if it goes wrong, or if you say the wrong thing, you’re responsible. Once you’re used to it – that’s the bit you rely on. The adrenaline is very addictive.”
He continued, “There is certainly the sense of anticipation before every show – but the only time I get nervous is when I feel I’m out of my depth, like The Masked Singer, when I really question my life choices.”
Jokingly reflecting on the timing of his foray into the masked world of singing, Shephard quipped, “Basically, doing The Masked Singer, I was slap bang in the middle of a midlife crisis, but what was much better than getting a fast car was to surround myself in a beautiful Conkers costume.”
The sheer volume of lyrics and song structures he had to memorise proved to be a significant challenge. “I had so many flipping songs and lyrics to learn,” he recalled. “I would wake up in the middle of the night, and I would try and go for a wee, and I would have to sing the song three times in my head before I could go. Ah man, it was so traumatic, I had no sleep, it was relentless and brilliant at the same time. It was this crazy juxtaposition of this incredible rush when it was done and the trauma of doing even more tomorrow because we filmed every other day.”
Shephard narrowly missed out on the coveted winner’s title, with former Sugababes star Keisha Buchanan, performing as “Moth,” taking home the crown. However, the presenter admitted to feeling “mortified” after delivering his rendition of the JLS hit “Everybody In Love,” especially given that Marvin Humes, a member of JLS, was also a contestant, performing as “Can of Worms.”
The challenge of keeping his identity a secret was amplified by his close friendship with the show’s host, Joel Dommett, who also happens to be his podcast co-host. “I can’t tell you how intense that experience is, especially when you’re not a professional singer,” Shephard stated. “That moment when the reveal happened and I had been sitting next to the judges on the panel as well, Joel collapsing was just hilarious.”
He confessed, “Lots of people had been suggesting I was Can of Worms, which was the brilliant Marvin Humes. I murdered a JLS song in front of Marvin; I was mortified.”
A New Era on “This Morning”
In March 2024, Ben Shephard stepped into a new presenting role alongside Cat Deeley, 49, on the popular daytime show This Morning. They took over from former hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, who departed the programme under challenging circumstances. Phillip Schofield left the show with immediate effect in May 2023 following his admission of an inappropriate relationship with a younger male colleague. Holly Willoughby later quit in October 2023 amidst reports of a breakdown in their once-close friendship, a period that saw a noticeable shift in the show’s loyalties.
Since taking the helm, Shephard credits his strong partnership with Cat Deeley as a key factor in revitalising This Morning. “Cat has been brilliant,” he said. “She hadn’t done a show like This Morning with that high volume of turnover of content and live shows every single day, which can be quite relentless, and she has taken to it like a duck to water.”
He further praised his co-host, adding, “She is genuinely curious about all of our guests and has this lovely sense of joy about life, and that’s been lovely. It’s been lovely getting to know her and working alongside her. It’s a show I’ve worked on, on and off for years, and we are both hugely proud to be the current custodians of what is unquestionably the viewers’ show.”
Shephard emphasised the direct feedback they receive from the audience. “We get told in no uncertain terms if they think we’re doing a great job and also if they don’t like what we have done. This Morning is all about the viewers, and it’s always been about reflecting what’s great about this country of ours. We have such a range of guests, which can be from the sublime to the ridiculous – it’s what keeps people talking and engaged. All of life is there for everybody to enjoy, and we’re lucky we get to sit and have a front-row seat for it.”
Embracing Health and Longevity
As he approached his 50th birthday, Ben Shephard decided to embark on a personal challenge, pushing his physical and mental limits. This culminated in a striking appearance on the cover of Men’s Health, where he proudly showcased his sculpted physique.
A long-time advocate for a healthy lifestyle, Shephard’s previous demanding schedule on breakfast television required a careful balance between early starts and family life with his wife, Annie, and their sons, Sam, 20, and Jack, 19. However, in 2024, he committed to achieving peak physical condition, implementing a strict regime that included cutting out alcohol and sugar entirely.
Now, Shephard asserts that his health journey is less about aesthetics and more about long-term well-being. “When I was on Good Morning Britain, I had to get up at 3:30 am every day, so I have certainly been enjoying the last couple of years since I’ve had a bit of a lie-in,” he shared. “Every day I get a three-hour lie-in, and that’s never lost on me. I did more or less 20 years of early mornings, and they don’t get any easier ever, and you wear them physically and emotionally. My routine has always been about being able to cope with less sleep and being mentally agile very early.”
He contrasted this with his current schedule on This Morning: “On This Morning, I get up at 6:30 am, which is a normal routine. I get up, make my wife a cup of tea, get to work and meet the team and go through what we’re doing.”
Reflecting on how his career and routine have shaped him, Shephard revealed that turning 50 inspired him to set new physical goals and re-evaluate his approach to the next chapter of his life. “I turned 50 last year and set myself a physical challenge about turning 50 and how I was going to approach the next stage,” he explained. “The reality is, I probably have less time ahead of me than I have already lived, and I want to make sure every single one of those days, I live to the most extreme it can possibly be. Whether that is being with my family, at work, being out and about on adventures, and how you look and how you feel is very important.”
He added, “I have a very busy life – I do a job I absolutely love, and there are lots of things I want to be able to keep doing that I don’t want to compromise on.”
While he has maintained his commitment to a healthy lifestyle, Shephard has relaxed some of his stricter habits. “I have kept it up, but I’m not quite as strict on the drinking as I was, and I certainly allow myself to have more sugar than I did in the run-up to the Men’s Health shoot, but I love knowing more about the process. Small changes can make the most enormous difference to your physiology and how quickly action leads to motivation as well. Hopefully, me doing it, that bloke off the TV that everyone wakes up with – if I can do it – why can’t anybody else?”
A New Skincare Venture: “Joel And Ben For Skin”
Ben Shephard’s dedication to living a full and healthy life extends beyond personal fitness. He recently relocated to a sprawling 10-bedroom Grade II-listed mansion in Richmond, London, reportedly valued at around £3.5 million, a move that seems to symbolise this new chapter. This focus on well-being has also inspired him to launch a skincare range.
In collaboration with Joel Dommett, and stemming from their podcast The Business Men, the pair are developing a new brand, “Joel And Ben For Skin.” As two men in their 40s and 50s with prominent careers in primetime television, they recognised the growing importance of skincare for men, not only for maintaining a refreshed appearance but also for catering to an increasingly image-conscious younger generation.
“We have a long way to go before we have physical product on the shelves, but it was an idea dreamed up between me and Joel,” Shephard said. “We love that we have been lucky enough to work with some amazing skincare experts, and brilliant makeup artists and dermatologists, and come to the importance of looking after our skin.”
He elaborated on their motivation: “I am a man in my 50s, and Joel has just turned 40. We both have boys, and mine are obviously teenagers, but Joel’s son Wilde is much younger, and they have another baby on the way. I have watched how my boys have looked after themselves – we have shifted a lot; young people these days are so open about wanting to look their best and feel their best.”
Shephard believes there’s a gap in the market for a high-performance yet user-friendly men’s skincare line. “Joel and I have had the incredible expertise of people over the years and feel like there’s an opportunity for us to create a men’s skincare range that’s high performance and low effort, that is a bit of a laugh as well. Men want it to be simple and easy, and we want to have a laugh about it as well. We’re enjoying the process and taking it seriously but also have a laugh along the way.”
The duo even put their bodies on the line to generate buzz and gather crucial market research for their new venture. Their podcast listeners and loyal fanbase participated in a skincare survey. To encourage further engagement, they introduced a stakes-raising challenge: the person who secured the fewest sign-ups would have to get their nipple pierced. Joel Dommett, 40, ultimately lost the challenge.
Shephard recalled the dramatic moment: “My knees gave way when I realised it was going to be Joel, because Annie said, ‘If you get your nipple pierced, don’t come home!’ There was a lot riding on it. And to be fair, Joel’s wife Hannah was equally displeased. I’ll be forever traumatised by watching that piercing happen. Joel is a pretty robust individual, but that was real pain when the needle went in – and I was only inches away.”
