Bye bye Ben: the presenter is moving to Sky Sports Pic: ©Rex Features
Ben Shephard has signed a deal to move to Sky Sports, in time for the English Premier League in August.
The sports-mad presenter quit GMTV after the announcement of a shake-up on the programme, which has seen Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley drafted in to take over the main presenting roles in the autumn.
Out of the current presenting team, only Kate Garraway and John Stapleton have been confirmed to take on new roles in the revamped programme, which will be re-branded Daybreak.
Ben, whose new deal is believed to be worth £495,000, will now concentrate on his love of sport and will co-present Goals on Sunday with Chris Kamara as well as some live UEFA Champions League matches.
He said: “I can’t tell you how excited I am about my new role and this new chapter in my career. The opportunity to join the incredible team that makes up Sky Sports is second to none.
'The chance to indulge my passion for football and to work on what is, without doubt, the most technically cutting-edge channel on television is something I’ve aspired to for a long time. What’s more, my wife can no longer nag me about my football viewing!'
Ben will join the Sky Sports team on August 15, and the managing director, Barney Francis, said the channel can’t wait to have him on board: "Ben is one of the brightest talents on British television, a fantastic presenter, and we've been following his career with interest for years.
"His passion for sport and experience presenting live television mean he's perfect for Sky Sports."
