Kate Garraway outside Global studios and Tipping Point star Ben Shephard on This Morning
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Ben Shephard on ‘secret’ he kept from friend Kate Garraway for 20 years

Ben previously discussed the moment on GMB

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Tipping Point and This Morning host Ben Shephard once kept a secret from his friend Kate Garraway for 20 years.

The star, 49, was left “embarrassed” when he accidentally saw his now former Good Morning Britain co-star Kate topless. In 2019, Ben explained that he would often meet up with Kate for a cuppa but this one time years before, a mortifying incident happened.

Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway at NTAs
Poor Ben suffered an awkward incident with Kate years ago (Credit: SplashNews.com)

This Morning host Ben Shephard on Kate Garraway secret

Speaking on Good Morning Britain in 2019, Ben said: “It took me 20 years to get over it! We were working together and lived round the corner from one another, we literally were neighbours.

I didn’t want to move because she would notice me and that would be really embarrassing.

“I’d invited myself over for a cup of tea, I was cycling everywhere at the time and her kitchen was in her basement.”

Kate Garraway on GMB with Tipping Point star Ben Shephard
Kate found the incident amusing (Credit: ITV)

Ben continued at the time: “I was chaining my bike up and it was lunchtime, so Kate had obviously gone home and had a sleep and then suddenly someone walked into the kitchen and I looked up and it was Kate and she was topless. I stopped and I was just transfixed.”

Kate, who was also on the show at the time, replied: “Paralysed like a cobra.” Ben admitted: “I didn’t want to move because she would notice me and that would be really embarrassing.”

Ben Shephard smiling at event
Ben recalled the incident in 2019 (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Kate and Ben’s friendship

Ben admitted he just walked away like he’d “never seen a thing” and the incident left him in a “hot sweat”. However, the star eventually told Kate about the incident during one morning at work.

Ben and Kate have remained close friends over the years. Ben was by Kate’s side as her late husband Derek Draper battled Covid-19. He died in January at the age of 56, following almost four years of battling the after-effects of Covid.

In 2020, Kate told OK! magazine about Ben: “For 20 years, Ben has had to do so much for me, but this year has been another level. He has been at the end of the phone and trying to do everything that he can to help. He has been amazing.”

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Read more: This Morning viewers beg Kate Garraway to replace Cat Deeley after GMB star’s reunion with Ben Shephard

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Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)