GOOD Morning Britain host Adil Ray has joked that he encouraged Ben Shephard to quit so he could work with Kate Garraway.
Ben, 49, had been an original member of the cast and remained with the show until 2024, when he was hired to star alongside Cat Deeley, 47, on This Morning.
It meant Adil, 50, was offered more screen time and got to work with Kate, 57, more often.
He typically hosts the show alongside Charlotte Hawkins when Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley are off.
In a new interview, the Citizen Khan creator quipped that he’d been all too happy for Ben to move to ITV‘s sister programme.
He told The Mirror: “Kate is utterly fabulous, I was delighted when Ben went to This Morning.
“I was messaging him at the time, [when the rumours started] and he wasn’t sure what was going on. I was like: ‘I think this is a brilliant idea [for you], Ben. That’s the best career move you could make.’”
Kate previously joked how Ben was “dead” to her after leaving GMB.
Ben fought back tears on his last GMB, which aired on February 23.
Soon after, he headed to the studio next door to front This Morning with Cat.
Speaking at the Variety Awards this year, Ben gushed over the differences in his new job – including cooked meals and more sleep due to the later start time.
He said: “They cook for us, we get a lie in and it’s generally more civilised.
“Do you know what, I couldn’t have done This Morning without my 10 years doing what I do with Kate and Susanna and Charlotte – and Ranvir and Laura being a part of the team as well.
“I mean, the last 10 years has flown by hasn’t it?”
Kate, who was seen shaking her head, then jokingly interjected: “He’s dead to us, he is dead to us.”
She then pushed him aside in a tongue-in-cheek moment.
