Ben Shephard posed for several sweet snaps with his Good Morning Britain co-stars on Thursday, ahead of his move to This Morning.
The broadcaster, 49, was unveiled as the ITV show’s new host alongside Cat Deeley, 47, after much speculation on Friday.
His final day on GMB will be Friday, with the presenter already making his goodbyes to his fellow cast and crew.
Ben took to his Instagram on Thursday to share a sweet photo with Kate Garraway, who he has described as his ‘onscreen wife’.
Snapping a selfie from the set, the pals beamed for the camera while Ben captioned it: ‘Two days and counting @kategarraway ❤️’.
Ben Shephard posed for several sweet snaps with his Good Morning Britain co-stars on Thursday, ahead of his move to This Morning
The broadcaster, 49, was unveiled as the ITV show’s new host alongside Cat Deeley and his final day on GMB will be Friday, with the presenter already making his goodbyes
Ben took to his Instagram on Thursday to share a sweet photo with Kate Garraway , who he has described as his ‘onscreen wife’, showing off their matching blue ensembles
The duo posed for another snap together, showing off their matching blue ensembles, with both wearing pale blue suits.
Sharing the photo to his Stories, Ben quipped: ‘It’s got to be #blue’.
Weather presenter Laura Tobin also took the opportunity to get a snap with Ben, telling her followers: ‘My last day working on @gmb with this one’ with a crying emoji.
Poking fun at the meteorologist, Ben commented: ‘Gloomy skies without you @lauratobinweather but sunny spells now we can stay out late!’
Laura and Ben also shared a touching snap of them hugging each other tightly, as she wrote: ‘Not letting go’ and he added: ‘Ahh best. Hug. Ever ❤️’.
Ben posted a group shot with fellow stars Ranvir Singh and Richard Arnold, as well as Laura and Kate, which he sweetly called ‘Family’ as they smiled together.
However, the next photo saw the group pretending to cry, with the caption: ‘Then mixed emotions’ as Ben playfully gasped in shock and joked: ‘Freedom’.
It comes after Ben paid an emotional tribute to his GMB co-host and ‘on-screen wife of 20-years’ Kate.
Weather presenter Laura Tobin also took the opportunity to get a snap with Ben, telling her followers: ‘My last day working on @gmb with this one’ with a crying emoji’
Laura and Ben also shared a touching snap of them hugging each other tightly, as she wrote: ‘Not letting go’ and he added: ‘Ahh best. Hug. Ever ❤️’
The Tipping Point host said no longer presenting alongside pal Kate was the ‘hardest decision’ ahead of agreeing to take on the role of Phillip Schofield’s replacement.
The telly favourite, who has hosted GMB since 2014, also revealed that the adjoining studios would make it easy for him to call in for a catch up.
He said: ‘One of the hardest decisions of course is knowing that my mornings with Kate, my on-screen wife of nearly 20 years, is coming to an end’.
Touching on her recent loss of beloved husband Derek Draper, Ben continued: ‘Her journey has been well documented, and I think we would all agree how remarkable she has been over the last four years.
‘I won’t miss the mess but I’ve learned so much from her, as I have from all of the people I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside’.
Following the news Kate took to Instagram to congratulate Ben and Cat, while admitting just how much she would miss working with him.
Alongside a snap of them laughing she wrote: ‘Massive congrats to @benshephardofficial on the @itv @thismorning gig’.
‘You’ll be SOOOOO missed by EVERYONE @gmb viewers and the team alike & ofcourse especially me. BUT after 24 years hard labour by my side no one will begrudge you time off for good behaviour!!!’
Ben posted a group shot with fellow stars Ranvir Singh and Richard Arnold , as well as Laura and Kate, which he sweetly called ‘Family’ as they smiled together
However, the next photo saw the group pretending to cry, with the caption: ‘Then mixed emotions’ as Ben playfully gasped in shock and joked: ‘Freedom’
Before she added: ‘Good luck swapping early starts for (abit) of a lie in and a Kate for a Cat! @catdeeley can’t wait to see you – you’ll have a ball’
Cat and Ben have been locked in talks for some months following the exit of Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield and are now set to make their debut next month following the news.
Her role on the show will see the star reportedly lose her long-time role on So You Think You Can Dance in the US , where she was reportedly paid £43k an episode – instead opting for the role on This Morning with a reported £550k annual salary.
It had been claimed that she was finally been won round with a more lucrative deal, but insiders at ITV denied the claims – insisting it was the ability to spend more time family, over a big money payday, that finally sealed the deal.
The news was confirmed via a bespoke promo on This Morning’s Twitter, showing Ben walking down the familiar This Morning production corridor and placing a new photo of Cat on the wall, before turning to the camera as the photo comes to life.
Ben said: ‘This really feels like a very special moment for Cat and I to be part of the next chapter of This Morning. It’s an honour to be trusted with the reigns, join Alison and Dermot and all the team that work on and off screen and do such a great job…
It comes after Ben paid an emotional tribute to his GMB co-host and ‘on-screen wife of 20-years’ Kate (pictured together in 2015)
Following the news Kate took to Instagram to congratulate Ben and Cat, while admitting just how much she would miss working with him
‘For the last ten years I’ve been waking up with our ITV daytime audience on GMB and I now look forward to spending time with Cat…
‘Welcoming the viewers home after the school run or from their early morning routines, with a cup of tea and a mix of everything that makes This Morning so loved.’
Cat added: ‘This Morning is a national institution. Whenever it’s on, it’s like having your friends over – funny, smart, silly, heartfelt, informative and joyful – like all the greatest friendships!…
‘This Morning is and always will be the viewer’s show. Ben and I both know how much people love it, and with the help of an amazing team of people, we’re going to do our best to take care of it.
Holly and Phil both left the ITV daytime show last year and since there has been a rotating group of stars at the helm
