Ben Shephard’s This Morning start date revealed by GMB co-star as he bids tearful goodbye to show

BEN Shephard and Cat Deeley’s This Morning start date has been revealed.

The big news was announced on today’s Good Morning Britain, which is Ben’s last edition of the show after 10 years.

RexBen Shephard’s This Morning start date has been revealed[/caption] RexAndi Peters teared up as he gave his old friend a hug[/caption] TM PRESSCat Deeley will become Ben’s new ‘work wife’[/caption]

Entertainment editor Richard Arnold told viewers that Ben will begin his new chapter on Monday, March 11.

Emotional Dickie gave his work pal a big hug and told him “I love you, mate”.

Earlier in the episode Andi Peters fought back tears and struggled to get through a competition segment as he choked up over Ben’s exit.

Andi, who has worked with Ben for two decades, presented him with a memento to take with him, a miniature bobbing head figurine of himself.

Through the episode various tributes came in from the likes of football managers Sam Allardyce and Harry Redknapp and Coronation Street star Patti Clare, who plays florist Mary Taylor in the soap and invited Ben to join her on the cobbles if his new gig doesn’t work out.

Co-star Lorraine Kelly urged him to “not lose his cheekiness” and told him she “loved him very much”.

Ben and Cat won’t be far away from the GMB team, in fact their new studio is just next door.

The presenting duo have bagged £550,000 deals to lead the flagship ITV programme – £150,000 less than predecessors Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.

Roman Kemp is officially in the running to replace Ben on GMB – according to bookies at least.

The Capital FM breakfast show host announced this week that he will be leaving the radio station to new ventures.

According to SafeBettingSites, frequent guest hosts Adil Ray and Ed Balls are currently the favourites to become permanent.

Ray stands at 5/2, while Balls is matching Rylan at 4/1.

Roman is a slight ways behind at 12/1, with other odds being placed for Alison Hammond (5/1), Amol Rajan (7/1), Jermaine Jenas (8/1) and Alex Scott (12/1).

In an emotional announcement confirming his move to This Morning, Ben paid tribute to his 10 years on GMB, and his ‘work wife’ Kate Garraway.

He said: “I’ve loved hosting Good Morning Britain over the past 10 years since it launched.

“When I left GMTV, I always swore I’d never go back because of the early mornings and it goes to show how wrong I was.”

“I’m grateful that my extended GMB family is only next door so that whenever I get nostalgic, I know I’m not going to being far away. Although I’ll miss being on screen with them, my later starts mean I may be able to hang out with them all a bit more!

“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.

“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.”

Co-star Cat has swapped a lucrative telly career in the US where she hosted So You Think You Can Dance for a return to screens in the UK.

RexBen was presented with a mini Andi Peters figurine[/caption]