Jane McGowan snatches five minutes with Ben Shephard
Ben Shephard, self-confessed sports junkie and star of Good Morning Britain and Ninja Warrior UK and Tipping Point, has now taken on a new role as ambassador for Speedflex – a group-training concept offering high-intensity, machine-based interval training. We managed to catch-up with him as he put fitness fans through their paces at One Premium Fitness in Reigate recently.
Q) How did you get into presenting?
I was studying dance and theatre arts at university and saw an advert for a job at a local television company. I applied and got the job and started working as a runner – making tea, collecting props, delivering tapes, answering phones – anything and everything. The company made weather broadcasts and they were the ones who suggested I try presenting. It was a brilliant place to work, and really got my TV taste buds going.
Q) I’m aware you’re musically talented and enjoy playing a range of sports, were you one of those people at school that was good at everything?
I definitely wasn’t good at everything, particularly the work stuff, but I was always keen to have a go at most things so ended up being involved in quite a bit. My mum would say it was always better to keep myself busy, if I wasn’t I’d probably have ended up in trouble.
Q) It would seem you have tried most sports – is there anything you would still like to try or one sport you would like to be better at?
I’d like to be better at all the sports I do! I absolutely love being in the sea, so being better at surfing and kite surfing, two sports I’ve tried a few times and absolutely loved would be great. The one sport I haven’t tried that looks great but terrifying at the same time is downhill mountain biking. The boys are really getting into their biking, so I don’t think it will be long till we are throwing ourselves down some hills.
Q) How do you balance your work and family life, and still have time to keep fit and healthy?
For me the key is being organised. If I don’t plan stuff I don’t do it, so it all goes in the diary. I really have to prioritise the training as I function so much better when I’m fitter. Now the boys are older we are doing more things together too – so training in the gym, doing park run, playing football, anything that gets us out and gets our heart rate up.
Q) After years of early morning starts, at the weekends can you lie in or is your body clock set for 3am?
No, luckily I’ve never had a problem sleeping, and on the weekends I can sleep for England!
Q) Who would be your dream guest on GMB and which celebrity would you like to see have a go at Ninja Warrior?
We’ve had pretty much everyone on – but I guess Trump would make very interesting viewing, or indeed Obama for that matter. I’d love to know what he makes of the new president. As for Ninja I’d really want someone who could give it a good crack – I know Olly Murs is training for it, or Freddie Flintoff who hosts the Australian version. And then just because it would be hilarious watching Kate Garraway even get up to the start line would be amazing.
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