Ben Shephard's Wife Annie Brands Him an 'Idiot' Over Ironman Ambition
This Morning presenter Ben Shephard has revealed his rarely-seen wife Annie thinks he's an "idiot" for wanting to complete an Ironman triathlon, as the television host opens up about his ambitious plans for his 51st year. Shephard, who turned 50 at the end of 2024, shows no signs of slowing down with hosting duties on ITV's flagship daytime programme and new reality challenge The Summit, alongside his athletic aspirations.
Marathon Training Meets Domestic Doubts
"I'm going to do a marathon this year for the first time in six years, and if I do it, that might mean I could finally complete an Ironman—which has been a dream for a long time," Shephard explained with a grin. However, his interior designer wife Annie, whom he married in 2004, remains unconvinced about the physical demands on her husband's body.
"Annie thinks I'm an idiot," he admitted. "She thinks I should probably take more time off and enjoy some downtime. Her concern would be physically, is my body up to it? Not mentally or whether I'm fit enough, but whether my back can cope or my knees can cope. That's the sort of thing I'm taking a bit more seriously now."
Family Life and Professional Changes
The couple, who live in Richmond, south west London with their sons Sam, 20, and Jack, 18, have been together for over two decades. Shephard attributes his constant activity to family traits, revealing "ADHD plays a heavy hand in our family so I'm often out, running around and doing things."
Professionally, Shephard has navigated significant changes at ITV Daytime, including studio relocations from White City to a more central London location. "Having got to White City in 2018, it was a real wrench physically because we all knew it inside out," he said. "That was a big change for everybody but it's the next part of the adventure."
New Partnership and Screen Time Concerns
Shephard has developed a strong working relationship with co-host Cat Deeley, describing her as an "absolute star" with whom he shares many life perspectives. "We have a lot of touch points that mean we get on like a house on fire," he gushed. "I learn from her every day. The more time we spend with each other, the stronger that relationship is getting."
Despite his television prominence, Shephard revealed his sons never watch his shows—"They don't watch what I do, they're not remotely interested"—though he frequently mentions them on air without their knowledge. The presenter expressed concern about social media's impact on family dynamics, implementing 24-hour screen breaks when together. "If we can create an environment where we're playing golf or going to the football as fathers and sons, we don't need to have those screens on us," he explained.
The Summit Adventure and Physical Limits
Shephard's latest project, ITV's The Summit, sees 14 contestants attempting to conquer one of New Zealand's highest peaks for £200,000. "It ticks every single one of my dream boxes," he said about the show set in his favourite country. Among contestants are familiar faces including Gillian McKeith's daughter Afton, former Gladiator Warren Furman, and Ninja Warrior UK competitor Charlett Elcock.
The host witnessed the physical toll firsthand when contestant Patrick displaced his bicep in the first episode. "The challenge was safe but incredibly physically demanding for them," Shephard explained. "Patrick didn't do what he was told and tried to do something else to impress the group."
Thankfully, Shephard avoided the harshest conditions, being helicoptered to filming locations rather than camping in the snow. "I'm [over] 50 now—I'm not one for camping," he laughed. "I quite like having a nice firm mattress, hot and cold running water and a kettle that you can just flick a switch to start."
The Summit begins on Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, while Shephard continues his weekday hosting duties on This Morning, balancing professional commitments with family life and athletic ambitions that continue to raise eyebrows at home.
