Ben Shephard has a successful career as a TV presenter on shows such as Good Morning Britain and This Morning, but it was a ‘crushing’ blow early in his career that proved ‘hugely important’
Robin Cottle Assistant Editor Trendswatch
16:00, 17 Jan 2026
Ben Shephard says getting axed ‘floored’ him(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
TV star Ben Shephard revealed how he received the “crushing” news that he was getting axed from a TV show as the news left him “floored”.
The 51-year-old is now one of Britain’s most recognisable TV presenters, working for shows including This Morning, Good Morning Britain and GMTV.
But things didn’t always run so smoothly for the TV star. Towards the start of his career his friend Andi Peters helped him get a job with Channel 4.
Ben told the Brilliant Minds podcast that he was “loving the job” and “all seemed to be going great” when he was called into a meeting with a powerful executive he had never met before.
She sat him down and said: “Ben, we’ve been watching you for the last few months, and we just don’t think you’re very good. We don’t think you’ll ever be good at this. So we’re going to terminate your contract.”
Ben said the feeling of despair was exacerbated by the fact that he and his now wife Annie had just bought a flat.
Ben Shephard presents This Morning with Cat Deeley(Image: PA)
He said: “That was my first taste of being in television and realising how subjective telly can be and actually how brutal it can be at times.
“First time is always the most painful and scary and intimidating and terrifying, frankly, because Annie and I just bought a flat and the responsibility that comes with that.”
The dad-of-two remembers saying to the Channel 4 executive that he hopes to prove her wrong one day.
It is fair to say he succeeded in that desire. Shortly after the pain of being sacked, he was given an opportunity at Entertainment Today, a segment on GMTV, in 2000.
Ben said he found the experience ‘crushing'(Image: ITV)
He ended up staying there for 10 years. His other credits include Good Morning Britain, This Morning, Tipping Point and Ninja Warrior UK. Ben even returned briefly to Channel 4 as the host of food show What’s Cooking?
The presenter has also starred in Soccer Aid seven times and he holds the Guinness World Record for smashing the most pumpkins in one minute.
Ben said the experience ended up being “hugely important” for him. He told the podcast: “I think how important that was as a moment. At the time it was anything but it was just absolutely, it floored me.
“Crushing. And I can look back now and go it’s hugely important for me just to understand that you are only ever as good as your last link. You can never count on things that have been said, it has actually been done.”
Ben will be a guest judge on The Masked Singer tonight. Catch the presenter along with regular panellists Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Maya Jama and Mo Gilligan on ITV from 7pm to 8.30pm.
