Ben Shephard quits GMTV

The star quit the show just days before bosses revealed his fate

GMTV star Ben Shephard has quit the sofa just days before learning whether or not he would face the axe.

Earlier in the year ITV announced they would be making essential cutbacks, revealing at least one presenter would face the chop.

But Ben pipped bosses to the post by handing in his notice yesterday.

The popular daytime star has said he will stay on the show until the end of the summer, when newly hired Adrian Chiles will be stepping into his shoes.

Fellow presenter, ex-tennis ace Andrew Castle is also set to face the chop.

‘Ben has resigned, but will stay with us until the end of the summer,' he said.

'Obviously, he felt it was untenable to stay and wait to see what was happening with his job. It was clear that he felt that he had to jump before he was pushed.'

But Ben is still a face of ITV, and could be in the pipeline to front other primetime shows.

It seems this is just the start of a massive shakeup for the famous GMTV sofa.

Glossy blonde newsreader Helen Fospero is being lined up to join new presenter Adrian Chiles - who is about to leave the BBC's One Show - when he takes his seat later this year.

And sources say lead anchor Kate Garraway is still ‘nervous' about what her future holds.

'Kate is still incredibly nervous about her job - she knows that nobody is safe at the moment,' one insider said.

Meanwhile Lorraine Kelly - who currently only works two days a week in London - could be forced to record five live shows a week to save money in the latest cost-cutting exercise.

Who would you like to see on the GMTV sofa? Will you miss Kate and Ben in the mornings, or is it time for something new? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.

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