Ben Shephard Fills In for Lorraine Kelly on ITV Show After Voice Collapse
In a sudden schedule change, Ben Shephard took over hosting duties on Thursday's episode of the ITV programme Lorraine, replacing the show's regular presenter Lorraine Kelly. This substitution came after Kelly sparked significant health concerns earlier in the week with what viewers described as a 'painful to watch' appearance, marked by a severely strained voice.
Viewer Alarm and Last-Minute Replacement
The latest instalment of the popular morning show saw Shephard, 51, who co-hosts This Morning with Cat Deeley from Monday to Thursday, step in to discuss the day's headlines. During the usual studio link-up from Good Morning Britain, presenter Kate Garraway remarked to Shephard, 'Now... Lorraine is looking a bit rough this morning, if I am honest! Ben Shephard, what are you doing?!'
Shephard explained the situation to viewers, stating, 'I'm not 100 per cent sure, Kate, as you know. But what I can tell you is unfortunately, if you've been watching this week, Lorraine's voice has been very bad. It's been getting worse. It finally collapsed last night, she couldn't say a thing! Much to Steve's delight. Just a few squeaks here and there. So I've jumped into the hot seat just for today.'
Social Media Reaction to the Change
Many viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their thoughts on the hosting switch. Responses were largely positive towards Shephard's appearance, with comments such as:
- 'Omg how refreshing is it to see @benshepherd on #Lorraine!'
- 'It's really refreshing to see Ben.'
- 'It's sad that poor Lorraine is too unwell for work today, but it's lovely to have an extra half hour of Ben!'
Earlier in the week, concern had mounted among loyal viewers of the ITV show, who urged Kelly to 'go home and rest!' amid evident health issues. On Tuesday's episode, where she was joined by guests including actor Martin Clunes and MP Naz Shah, Kelly noticeably struggled with a sore throat, prompting a flurry of social media posts.
One viewer wrote on X, 'Go home and rest your voice, lots of honey and lemon #Lorraine.' Another added, 'Lorraine comes into the studio spreading her Germs to everyone!!! #itv #lorraine.' A third commented, 'Lorraine’s voice is making my throat feel sore #Lorraine,' while a fourth stated bluntly, 'God @lorraine is painful to listen to and watch #lorraine.'
Notable Segments from the Episode
The programme also featured an interview with MP Naz Shah, who discussed her new book titled Honoured. Shah, 52, has represented Bradford West for over a decade and opened up about personal challenges, including forced marriage, homelessness, and her mother's imprisonment for killing an abusive partner.
Reflecting on her resilience, Shah said, 'When I tried to kill myself and my mum found out, when I had my stomach pumped, I remember her saying: "What happens to me if you're not here?" So it was like the pressure of having to be there for my mum. Having to be there for my younger brother and sister who were 11 and 13, who were made homeless when we lost everything. You have that kind of pressure to perform, to survive, because you've got an obligation which is beyond yourself.'
She continued, 'So you've got two teenagers to look after and a mother who's in prison. Then you've got the fight to fight for her, which would take me 14 years before she came home. So you carry on and as a woman, we rise to a challenge, don't we?'
Additional Programme Highlights
Furthermore, the episode included a discussion about Waterloo Road and Emmerdale star Adam Thomas, who shared a social media video detailing his experience with arthritis. In January, the 37-year-old vowed to 'start taking care of his body again' after suffering from severe pain.
Thomas explained in the clip, 'It basically means my immune system is attacking my own body. Some days, it's everywhere. It's swelling and it's exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix. And sometimes, it's smiling through the pain. Pretending everything is okay, when it's not.' He added, 'Now the hardest part isn't always the pain, it's unpredictability. One day you're completely fine and then the next day, you're in that much pain that you can barely even get out of bed. It affects everything - your confidence, mental health, your physical health.'
Upcoming Schedule Disruptions
In related ITV news, fans of Lorraine and Loose Women should note that both popular shows will be off air for a week next month. They have been removed from the schedule to accommodate coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, the prestigious horse racing event that kicks off on March 10.
The changes will take effect from Monday, March 9, with Good Morning Britain extending its runtime until 10am. It will be followed by This Morning from 10am, before race coverage begins at 12:30pm. This schedule adjustment follows a series of cost-cutting measures at ITV, which resulted in over 200 staff redundancies due to declining viewer numbers and a shift towards online streaming services.
Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 9:30am.
