Ben Shephard Rules Himself Out of Strictly Come Dancing Hosting Role
Popular television presenter Ben Shephard has firmly dismissed speculation about taking over the hosting duties on Strictly Come Dancing, candidly admitting that he simply does not possess the requisite bravery for such a high-profile position. The 51-year-old broadcaster, often dubbed TV's Mr Nice Guy, has effectively ruled himself out of contention to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who dramatically departed the glittering BBC dance competition last year.
'I've Never Been Brave Enough to Do It'
In a revealing interview with Metro and other media outlets, Shephard expressed his reluctance to step into the Strictly spotlight. 'Hosting Strictly?! Goodness me! Saturday nights. I've never even done Strictly [as a contestant],' he exclaimed. 'I feel like anybody that hosts that show needs to have a bit of an insight into what it is like to go through the mill.'
Despite his adventurous spirit – having scaled Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief in 2009 and fronting the new adrenaline-fuelled series The Summit – Shephard insists the dance show presents a challenge too daunting. 'I've never been brave enough do it. I've climbed the mountain [Kilimanjaro]. I'd do The Summit. But I'm not brave enough to take on Strictly,' he confessed.
Navigating Scrutiny on This Morning
Shephard's hesitation stems in part from his recent experience under intense public scrutiny. In 2024, he and co-host Cat Deeley were brought in to permanently replace Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on ITV's flagship daytime programme, This Morning. While the pair eventually settled into their roles, the transition period saw ratings dip and some criticism from viewers.
'[You] sort of take it in your stride, really. We love doing the job that we get to do and understand that there is a lot of ownership of the show… because of the viewers that make it work,' Shephard reflected. 'I welcome it. I enjoy doing what we're doing and making sure we are delivering a show that the viewers want to enjoy and watch, and also that part of it is not something I massively dwell on.'
The father of two, who shares sons Sam and Jack with his wife Annie, has learned to maintain perspective amidst the criticism. 'I just have to get home and realise I've got three loads of washing and my teenage sons to tidy up after,' he said pragmatically. 'There are bits of it that I can concern myself with… that I can listen to and take on board, stuff I think is interesting, or valuable, and then forget about the stuff that's not.'
Rumoured Replacements and New Challenges
With Shephard out of the running, BBC executives are reportedly considering several other high-profile names for the coveted Strictly hosting roles. Rumoured contenders include:
- Alan Carr and Amanda Holden
- Alex Jones and Rylan Clark, who previously presented the spin-off show It Takes Two
Meanwhile, Shephard is focusing on his latest television venture, The Summit, which premieres on ITV1 and ITVX on Tuesday, February 10th. The series follows fourteen strangers as they attempt to conquer a formidable mountain in New Zealand's Southern Alps, with a £200,000 prize at stake. Participants face not only treacherous physical challenges but must also strategically eliminate fellow competitors along the way.
'The physical challenge is not to be underestimated. Not one of these people had climbed a mountain in the past,' Shephard revealed. 'By the time you get to the snowline, they are in crampons with ice axes, climbing up glaciers, roped together in case anybody falls off. It was jaw-dropping what they had to do.'
Celebrity Casting Dreams
Already envisioning a potential celebrity version of the show, Shephard has identified several ITV colleagues he believes would thrive – or provide entertaining television – in such a demanding environment. 'I'd throw Joel Dommett in there in a minute. He would be fantastic. Cat would be bang up for it. She is really game, she's got young boys, so she likes a bit of camping, I think,' he suggested.
He also humorously speculated about others: '[Kate] Garraway would be awful. She wouldn't even find her way out of the airport to get to the hotel at the start. She'd be absolutely hopeless but brilliant telly. Dermot [O'Leary] would be brilliant, and Alison [Hammond] would be cheering everybody on. She'd be dancing all the way up.'
As Shephard continues to navigate the pressures of television presenting, his candid admission about Strictly Come Dancing highlights the unique demands of hosting one of Britain's most beloved entertainment programmes, while his upcoming project The Summit promises to deliver its own brand of high-stakes drama to audiences nationwide.
