‘I’m shattered’: Ben Shephard QUITS football show Goals on Sunday after nine years… as he vows to scale back TV work to make time for his family
- The presenter, 44, has stepped down from Sky Sports show Goals on Sunday after nine years
- The star joined the show in 2010 and presented alongside co-star Chris Kamara
- Ben said balancing his various TV commitments have left him ‘shattered’ and explains he wants to spend more time with sons Jack, 12, and Sam, 14
- He shares his boys with wife Annie Perks, whom he married in 2004
Ben Shephard has revealed that he’s quit his role on Sky Sports show Goals on Sunday and is scaling back his TV work to spend more time with his family.
The star is the face of several other hit TV shows including Good Morning Britain, Ninja Warrior UK and Tipping Point yet seems ready to calm things down.
The presenter, 44, announced his departure on Instagram on Saturday and explained he is leaving the sports show after nine years to focus on his sons, with the star stating he’s ‘shattered’ after flitting from show to show.
Time to go: Ben Shephard has revealed that he’s quit his role on Sky Sports show Goals on Sunday and is scaling back his TV work to spend more time with his family
Ben stated that he wanted to wants to be around to watch his boys Jack, 12, and Sam, 14, play their sports games before they grow up too fast.
He shares his sons with wife Annie Perks, whom he married in 2004.
He told The Mirror: ‘Now they’re teenagers, Sam is taller than me and Jack is not far behind, which I’m trying to come to terms with. They’re consumed by schoolwork all week, the weekend is the only time I can spend with them.’
He continued: ‘What tends to happen is that after doing the breakfast show on Thursdays and Fridays, Saturday comes and I’m shattered.
Family: The presenter, 44, is leaving the sports show after nine years to focus on his sons, with the star stating he’s ‘shattered’ after flitting from show to show
‘Doing Goals on Sunday has been amazing, but I can see that not only will we all benefit as a family but I’ll benefit too from being more involved in their weekend life.’
The TV personality later confirmed his exit with a lengthy post uploaded to his Instagram on Saturday.
Alongside a picture with himself and co-host Chris Kamara, 61, he wrote: ‘After 9 seasons, nearly 400 shows and at least 3 times as many “Unbelievable’s” the time has come to hang up my Goals On Sunday boots.
‘It’s been the experience of a life time working with the legend that is @chris_kammy, who I’m delighted to say isn’t just a colleague but a great friend that has taught me so much – both professionally and personally (not least in the bar!)
End of an era: After 9 seasons, nearly 400 shows and at least 3 times as many “Unbelievable’s” the time has come to hang up my Goals On Sunday boots
Going nowhere: Tipping Point fans needn’t fear as the presenter revealed that he’d never give up fronting the ITV game show
‘Thank you to all our viewers, the guests and especially @SkySports for trusting me with two of the gems in their line up – Kammy and Goals on Sunday!!..
‘I have loved every minute of it, and will miss waking up with Kammy every Sunday morning, but I’m really looking forward to working with Sky Sports in the future and I know Kammy and I will have more adventures to come. #GOS #easylikeasundaymorning.’
Goals on Sunday is a weekly chat show which rounds-up the latest football news and goals, as well as giving fans an in-depth analysis of the Premier League, Scottish Premier League and Football League Championship matches.
Career: As well as many other shows, Ben has been a regular Good Morning Britain host since 2014 (pictured with co-star Kate Garraway in June 2019)
The two-hour show, originally launched in 2000, sees several guest analysts featured every week, with former and current footballers and managers talking part.
But, Tipping Point fans needn’t fear as the presenter revealed that he’d never give up fronting the ITV game show, stating that it was be an ‘absolute privilege’ to see be hosting it in 20 years time.
He also joked that when he’s dead, he wants his gravestone to read: ‘He reached his tipping point.’
Co-stars: Ben has been a Ninja Warrior UK presenter from 2015 alongside Rochelle Humes and Chris Kamara
Ben’s TV career was launched when he hosted Channel Four spin-off show The Bigger Breakfast alongside Melanie Sykes and Dermot O’Leary in 1998.
He later went on to star on the now defunct GMTV from 2000, before going on to host X Factor spin-off The Xtra Factor between 2004 and 2006.
He began being a stand-in presenter on This Morning from 2005, making numerous appearances on the ITV daytime show since.
Other programmes he’s fronted include Soapstar Superstar, The Krypton Factor.
Ben has been a regular Good Morning Britain host since 2014, a Ninja Warrior UK presenter from 2015, while he had been on Goals On Sunday since July 2010.
While he’s also been the main main on Tipping Point since its inauguration in 2012.
The beginning: Ben’s TV career was launched when he hosted Channel spin-off show The Bigger Breakfast alongside Melanie Sykes and Dermot O’Leary in 1998
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