Alison Hammond left her This Morning co-star Ben Shephard completely speechless and struggling to contain his laughter after delivering a remarkably risqué joke during Wednesday's live broadcast. The veteran presenters were enjoying bubble tea, the sweet Taiwanese beverage that gained popularity in the 1980s, alongside guests Nick Ferrari and Nicola Thorp during a headlines discussion segment.
Awkward Exchange Over Bubble Tea
Following an advertising break, Alison, 51, engaged Ben in conversation about his opinion of the distinctive drink. Ben, also 51, attempted to explain his reservations about the tapioca pearls commonly found in bubble tea, stating: "I quite like the explosion stuff in my mouth."
Without missing a beat, Alison responded with the eyebrow-raising comment: "Oh, I love the feelings of balls exploding in the mouth." The studio fell into immediate silence as Ben stared at his co-host in apparent disbelief, glancing around the room before Alison awkwardly transitioned to announcing upcoming segments.
Recovering from the Moment
"Coming up over the next few hours," Alison began, only for Ben to release a stifled laugh that he quickly masked by introducing the remainder of the programme. This uncomfortable exchange follows another unconventional This Morning moment earlier in the week when Ben Shephard made an unexpected departure from the studio.
Pub Dash During Live Broadcast
Viewers were astonished when Ben Shephard abruptly left the ITV studio mid-broadcast to visit a nearby pub, returning with a pint for co-host Angela Scanlon. The incident occurred during a weather discussion segment with LBC radio host Tom Swarbrick, who had ventured outside to enjoy London's sunshine.
Tom, 38, appeared via live video link while slowly sipping a beer, encouraging his colleagues to join him. "For 40 days and nights, we've had continuous rainfall in Britain, and this is the first moment that I feel as a nation, we are so back," Tom declared enthusiastically.
Spontaneous Pub Visit
"I have this glorious bit of nectar here, the first one of the year," Tom continued as Ben admired the condensation on the glass. When Angela chanted "Down! Down! Down!" during Tom's swig, Ben immediately requested: "Tom, I'm going to come out. Can you order me one?"
Without hesitation, Ben departed the studio, leaving Angela to host solo as cameras followed his dash through London streets to join Tom at the pub. Drinking outside in the sunshine, Ben exclaimed: "This is absolutely glorious! Happy rest of the year, everybody! Scanlon, I'll bring you one back."
Viewer Reactions to Unconventional Segments
Following the advertising break, Ben returned to the studio with Angela, who has been substituting for the absent Cat Deeley. He presented her with his remaining drink, which she sampled while introducing subsequent show segments. "I want to look professional," Angela joked while returning the beverage.
Social media erupted with commentary about the 10:50am pub visit, with one viewer writing: "Out on the lash while live on This Morning," while another questioned: "Is this segment 'how to be a piss head at 10.50am'." A third observer noted: "What a job, to be able to nip out for a beer live," and a fourth added: "Who has a pint at 11am?"
Additional Controversial Commentary
In another segment that generated discussion, comedian Ruby Wax appeared on the programme to promote her upcoming tour, Ruby Wax: Absolutely Famous. During conversation about her 1990s interview series Ruby Wax Meets..., which featured Donald Trump among other notable figures, Ruby made a startling comment about the former president.
Recalling her challenging 2000 interview with Trump during his initial presidential campaign, Ruby described being removed from his private plane after laughing at his political aspirations. When hosts Ben and Angela mentioned Trump's subsequent election victories in 2017 and 2025, Ruby remarked: "Go figure... I should have taken him out," before quickly attempting to retract the statement.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said that. Can you erase that bit?" Ruby added nervously before concluding: "It's all in jest." Viewers responded with mixed reactions on social media, with some calling the comment "crazy" while others found it "hilarious."
This Morning continues to deliver unexpected moments during its weekday broadcasts on ITV1 and ITVX, maintaining its reputation for spontaneous entertainment and occasionally controversial content that captures viewer attention across multiple platforms.
