Known to millions as the clean-cut, gregarious host of ITV's This Morning, Ben Shephard is about to reveal a surprisingly adventurous side as he fronts one of television's most demanding challenge programmes. The 51-year-old presenter is launching into edgier territory with The Summit, a gruelling new adventure series that pushes contestants to their absolute limits in the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand.
From Studio Comfort to Mountain Peril
Shephard, who famously showcased his impressive six-pack on the cover of Men's Health magazine last year, is no stranger to physical challenges. However, The Summit represents a significant departure from his usual television work, plunging him into an environment where genuine danger and high-stakes drama unfold daily. The series follows fourteen completely inexperienced contestants as they attempt to conquer a formidable mountain in New Zealand's Southern Alps, carrying their share of a £200,000 cash prize in their rucksacks throughout the arduous journey.
A Diverse Group Facing Extreme Conditions
The participants represent an extraordinary cross-section of British society, including a landlady from Northampton, a female steel worker from Port Talbot, a London tour guide, and even an ordained minister. "Such an extraordinary melting pot of people from different backgrounds," Shephard observes, noting that tensions flare remarkably quickly. "The physical endeavour is so full on, really early on, that people's patience wears thin very quickly."
As the climb progresses, the challenges become increasingly severe. By the third day, contestants encounter snow and ice, requiring them to use ice picks and traverse glaciers. When night falls and temperatures drop below freezing, the group must make difficult decisions about who to eliminate, with the prize fund diminishing each time someone leaves the competition.
Real Danger and Emotional Confrontations
Shephard confirms that the peril was authentic throughout filming. "There was genuine jeopardy," he reveals, describing one incident where a contestant injured themselves on an "eye-wateringly high, sheer cliffside" while climbing a rope ladder. The presenter found himself having to defuse volatile situations, including a heated confrontation between a priest with a secret past and a manipulative ex-soldier.
When asked if the series represents an extreme version of popular shows like The Traitors, Shephard responds with characteristic humour: "I tell you what, Claudia's fingerless gloves wouldn't cut it on that mountain." The comparison highlights the raw physicality and environmental challenges that distinguish this production from more studio-based reality formats.
A Personal Passion for Adventure
Shephard's enthusiasm for adventure television stems from personal experience. He previously climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with Fearne Cotton for Comic Relief in 2009, recalling it as "the most dangerous thing I've ever done" due to several participants encountering serious difficulties. More recently, he participated in the World's Toughest Mudder endurance race at Belvoir Castle with his sons Sam and Jack, describing it as "pretty dangerous, in terms of what we were putting ourselves through."
Family Values and Work Ethic
Despite his television success, Shephard maintains strong connections to his Essex roots and working-class background. He passionately describes how his parents instilled a powerful work ethic: his father qualifying as an accountant through night school while his mother balanced nursing with lecturing. This upbringing clearly influences his approach to both his career and personal challenges.
Shephard credits his wife Annie, whom he met at Birmingham University while studying dance and drama, as being "the most important factor in our lives as a family." As they approach becoming empty-nesters with their sons pursuing their own paths, Shephard expresses excitement about this new life stage while acknowledging the adjustments it will require.
Fitness as a Way of Life
The presenter's commitment to physical fitness extends far beyond television requirements. He maintains a rigorous exercise regime that includes running, gym sessions with a personal trainer, and Pilates to manage back issues. "It's my meditation, my therapy," he explains, adding that he's currently training for a marathon despite believing his marathon days were behind him.
Shephard's motivation for maintaining peak physical condition reveals touching family aspirations. "So that, if I'm lucky enough to be a grandfather, I'll be able to kick a football around with my grandchildren," he shares. "I want to play golf with my boys and still beat them when I'm old." He cites his 80-year-old father winning a family golf tournament as particular inspiration.
Balancing Television Success with Personal Priorities
Alongside his new adventure series, Shephard continues to co-host This Morning with Cat Deeley, describing their partnership as seamless due to similar family backgrounds. He also presents the enduringly popular quiz show Tipping Point, which launched in 2012 and remains a daytime television staple.
Despite his television profile, Shephard maintains a remarkably grounded perspective on fame. When asked about admirers, he responds modestly, noting that his most notable fan is fictional Coronation Street character Mary Taylor. "That's the closest I get to understanding what it might be like to be an international sex symbol," he jokes, "because there's literally nothing else like that in my day-to-day life."
The Summit's Ultimate Message
As The Summit prepares to launch on ITV1 and ITVX, Shephard reflects on the series' broader significance. "You prove so much to yourself," he muses, whether discussing the contestants' mountain challenge or his own life experiences. "If you really put your mind to something and surround yourself with the people you want to be with, who believe in you – and you believe in them – then you can do anything."
The series promises to deliver breathtaking scenery, genuine physical jeopardy, and compelling human drama as ordinary people confront extraordinary challenges. For Ben Shephard, hosting this demanding production represents both a professional milestone and a personal passion project, revealing dimensions of the familiar television presenter that viewers have rarely seen before.
