An ITV star currently balancing presenting duties between two of the broadcaster’s flagship programmes is reported to be ‘torn’ between where he wants to stay and continue to co-host with.
After a run of appearances on This Morning over the last week, Good Morning Britain regular Ben Shephard is said to be ‘in two minds’ about which job he could potentially pick up permanently.
The TV presenter, 48, frequently appears on GMB alongside Susanna Reid, 52, a role he’s had since 2014.
Between 2005 and 2011, Ben was a stand-in presenter on This Morning, covering for regular presenter Phillip Schofield, and since 2015 has continued that role, mostly recently alongside Holly Willoughby, 42, after the exit of her long-time co-host Schofield.
With ITV yet to confirm who is going to replace Schofield after he resigned for admitting to lying about an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a much younger colleague, some fans have thrown their support behind Ben.
Now a source has said that he might be feeling pulled between the programmes.
‘Ben loves doing both shows, but Susanna Reid really wants him to stay on Good Morning Britain,’ they said.
‘Although they are on the same channel, they’re sort of rivals and both need ratings, and Ben is great at bringing in viewers.’
Despite Schofield’s exit, This Morning has pressed on, with presenters including Josie Gibson, Alison Hammond, Andi Peters, and Ben stepping up.
The source continued: ‘This Morning has had mixed ratings since Phil left, and not everyone sees Holly in the way they once did, so she needs a good partner next to her who’ll bring in ratings.
‘Ben is great at that. The public like him, he’s very honest and he’s a genuinely nice guy. He’s in two minds about what he would do if he was offered a permanent position on This Morning, he’d have to make a difficult choice,’ they added when speaking to OK!
However, they said Susanna will likely wanting to be holding on to her co-host, who she was paired up with after Piers Morgan left GMB two years ago.
‘Susanna won’t want Ben to leave because he’s so popular. Both she and Holly lost their TV husbands – Piers and Phil – so they’ll both be wanting Ben now. The other partnerships on This Morning with Holly haven’t worked as well as her and Phil, so Ben might be the answer.’
While the This Morning drama only unfolded a few months ago, it’s been reported that it might already be getting the small screen treatment.
Earlier this month a source told The Sun that a production company was looking to create a series about Schofield’s exit from ITV, with the working title ‘The Runner’.
‘The storyline will reflect what went on. People have seen it from the outside, but the drama will give a perspective on what may have occurred behind-closed-doors,’ they said.
They added it could ‘make for uncomfortable viewing’ for Schofield and ITV.
Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives for Ben Shephard for comment.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1, while this This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on the same channel.
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