ITV This Morning viewers rush to support Ben Shephard as he takes 'temporary leave'

Ben Shephard has been flooded with support after admitting he is "taking a break" from the ITV show. Ben, who hosts This Morning on ITV each Monday to Thursday, alongside Cat Deeley, is taking temporary leave from the 10am to 12.30pm programme.

The 49-year-old made the revelation on Thursday's episode of This Morning. Cat, 48, appeared to suggest Ben would be heading Down Under to cover ITV I'm A Celebrity and asked if he'd be seeing her "two mates" - referring to jungle hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.

Ben insisted he could "neither confirm or deny" it and all would be revealed on Monday. With Ben's disappearance lining up with perfect timing of the upcoming series of I'm A Celeb, Cat teased: "Are you going to be eating widgery grubs?"

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Continuing to push she asked: "Are you going to be hanging out with my two mates?" Remaining tight lipped, Ben insisted: "I can't say. When you are here on Monday with Alison I will be able to reveal where I am in the world. See you in a few weeks."

On Twitter/X, a fan typed: "Mmmm… has @benshephard just hinted he is going into the #Jungle?" Another typed: "Ben Shephard on I'm a Celebrity? Nah he wouldn't tell us that easy." A second said: "'I hope @benshephard IS on #ImACeleb @antanddec My daughter and I love him.

"I hope it is not all a facade! #thismorning @catdeeley'. It comes after the full lineup for I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! was reportedly been revealed, over two weeks before the new series is set to hit screens, with the ITV1 jungle reality show set to eturn to screens on Sunday November 17.

Coleen Rooney and Maura Higgins will be heading Down Under for the new series later this month.