Former presenter Ben Shephard made an unexpected and welcome return to the Good Morning Britain studio on Monday, 1st December 2025, delighting viewers and co-hosts alike.
A Warm Welcome Back to the GMB Desk
Shephard, who left the ITV breakfast show in March 2024 after a decade to co-host This Morning with Cat Deeley, appeared alongside Susanna Reid and Ed Balls. His visit was to help launch the programme's annual One Million Minutes campaign, which encourages people to pledge time to combat loneliness.
A clearly pleased Susanna Reid greeted him, saying, "Where will we be once Ben Shephard has told us to join up and pledge? Welcome back to the desk!" Ben responded warmly, telling the audience, "Hello everybody! Nice to see you all."
The Vital Mission Behind the Return
The segment quickly turned to the important cause at hand. Shephard explained that he was invited back specifically to launch the campaign, which he described as one of the initiatives he is "most proud of" from his time on GMB.
"The Million Minutes campaign has been such an extraordinary thing," Shephard stated. "It's been something like 882 million minutes that have been donated from people volunteering to help other people." He emphasised the campaign's focus on time, not money, and its tangible impact on those experiencing isolation through initiatives like Chatty Cafes and animal therapy in care homes.
Viewers React to Ben's Brief Comeback
Following the broadcast, fans took to social media platform X to express their joy at seeing Shephard back in his old surroundings. One viewer simply posted, "Yay Ben's back," while another commented, "Lovely to see Ben back in the GMB studio." A third echoed a sentiment felt by many, writing, "I miss Ben on GMB."
The surprise return underscored the ongoing success and emotional resonance of the One Million Minutes initiative, which first began in 2016 and continues to connect volunteers with those in need across the UK.
