Ben Shephard's 'troubling' new strategy on This Morning 'is leaving celebs seriously nervous' - but have YOU noticed his change of tactic?
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A 'troubling' new tactic used by Ben Shephard on This Morning is reportedly 'leaving celebrities seriously nervous - but have you noticed it?
The much-loved presenter, 51, began hosting the daytime programme in 2024 alongside Cat Deeley.
He has become a firm favourite over the years thanks to big hits such as Tipping Point and Good Morning Britain.
But according to The Sun, Ben has seemingly adopted a harder line of questioning in recent months - and it's had wider ramifications.
An insider told the publication: 'It’s This Morning, not Newsnight. Over the last six months, Ben has started to randomly take questioning down a far harder line.
'Very often, editors have agreed with key guests to avoid personal topics and keep chat work-related.
Ben Shephard has reportedly adopted a 'troubling' new strategy on This Morning - but have you noticed it?
Last week, Stacey Solomon joined Ben and Cat Deeley on the sofa ahead of her guest appearance on Britain's Got Talent
'That’s how the show continues to book great guests the viewers want to watch.
'But Ben has started to throw in a controversial, newsy question or two, and it’s left PRs nervous about placing their clients on the show.'
Last week, Stacey Solomon joined Ben and Cat on the sofa to discuss her appearance on Britain's Got Talent.
The Loose Women star temporarily filled in for Simon Cowell during auditions filming last October.
An ITV spokesperson said: 'This isn't something we recognise on This Morning. Ben is very popular with guests and viewers alike and receives lots of positive feedback.'
Daily Mail has contacted Ben's representatives for comment.
During the conversation, Ben made reference to Stacey's marriage to Joe Swash, saying: 'There are these crazy rumours going on about the two of you at the moment... What's going on there, Stace?'
Stacey replied: 'What are they? Go on. There's a new rumour each week!'
Ben explained: 'You've not been wearing your ring. There might be some issues going on?'
'Do you know what, I am terrible. I don't read any of that stuff.
'In fact, does anyone anymore?' Stacey asked.
'But yeah, we just... Have I not been wearing my ring? Probably took it off to go to the toilet, or something.'
Ben went on to say: 'There is a lot going on at the moment, because of his lake, the plan for the lake is coming to fruition.
'He was talking to us the other day...'
During the conversation, Stacey addressed 'crazy rumours' surrounding her marriage to Joe Swash
Stacey joked: 'Maybe I dropped my ring in the lake... with our marriage!'
The couple first met back in 2010 on the set of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, but didn't start dating until 2016.
They moved in together two years later, got engaged in 2020 and tied the knot two years later in 2022.
Stacey and Joe are proud parents to Rex, six, Rose, four, and Belle, two.
Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, are also from previous relationships that Stacey had.
Joe is also dad to Harry, who is from a previous relationship.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Ben fought back tears and told viewers 'I'm going to cry' as Fearne Cotton opened up about what drove her to write her new book.
The TV presenter admitted that he found it 'hard' to read his old friend's book, Likeable: How I Broke Free From The Need To Please, which details how Fearne, 44, came to terms with 'people pleasing'.
Fearne outlined the therapy session that prompted her to get writing again.
Ben got emotional as he told Fearne, who previously wrote Happy Place, that he took the book with him to the pub to read and found it difficult to hear some of what she was opening up on, given their close relationship.
Ben told her: 'I texted you on Friday because we got given a copy of your book and I sat on my own and I read it, in a pub.
'I couldn't stop reading it. It's an extraordinary sort of testament to what you've done, what you've lived through, what you've experienced... so honest.'
'I'm going to cry,' Ben added, as he reflected on reading the book and recalled attending one of Fearne's Happy Place Festivals, a two-day event organised by the presenter in London.
Ben continued: 'I was reading the book on Friday, it was really hard for me to read because you are so creative and so brilliant at what you do.
'Your experience was so hard for me to think that you've gone through it and you sharing that is so important for us.'
This Morning airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
