TV presenter Ben Shephard is celebrating his landmark 50th birthday today, and good wishes have been pouring in from fans and celebs alike.
However, there's one special person in Ben's life whose 'Happy Birthday' wish will likely mean the most—his devoted wife Annie Shephard, née Perks. Ben was surprised on today's episode of This Morning after being shown a series of messages from the likes of his former Good Morning Britain co-star, Kate Garraway, and fellow This Morning presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary.
The broadcaster has enjoyed a glittering career filled with famous pals, with his appointment as the new co-host of This Morning earlier this year, alongside Cat Deeley, marking an exciting new chapter. Meanwhile, low-key wife Annie has also enjoyed plenty of success behind the scenes, with dedicated Ben cheering her on every step of the way. Just don't mention her mother-in-law...
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Getty Images)The Tipping Point presenter's wife has combined her passion for interior design with her talent for words with her own blog, The House Editor. Before she became a mum, she had built a career writing for fashion and interior magazines, working for glossy publications such as House & Garden, Glamour, Elle Deco, Elle and Red.
On her website, Annie writes: "For the last 15 years, I’ve been raising our boys, knocking down and remodelling houses, building gardens out of mud pits and running interior projects. I've studied hard and taken excellent courses, so I’ve learned both the theory of design and I’ve also learned the hard way, by creating from the ground up, wellies on and spade in hand.
"After a few mistakes and a few more successes, my friends started to ask for help with their own interiors and gardens." Currently, Annie helps people "create stylish, meaningful interiors and gardens that tell their story". Ben is, of course, very proud of his wife, who, over the summer, for the Hampton Court Flower Show. Taking to Instagram back in July, supportive hubby Ben wrote: "Can’t tell you how proud I am of @annieshepharddesign and her @the_garden_girls_collective they have created such a stunning boarder for @the_rhs #hamptoncourtflowershow I think this smile will tell you how pleased/relieved they are.
"They have worked so hard on every element of the challenge, it’s totally consumed them so I’m really chuffed with how well it turned out. I also can’t quite fathom what would be involved in a show garden!!!"
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TXB)Ben and Annie have been married for 20 years, having tied the knot in March 2004. The pair met while they were both students at the University of Birmingham, where Perks studied philosophy and was head of the Philosophy & Epistemology Society.
They began dating in 1995 and married after nearly a decade together. The couple, who have been together for 28 years, have two sons, Jack and Sam, who are teenagers. They mainly keep their family life private; however, Ben regularly shares snaps of walks they like taking together.
On their wedding anniversary in 2020, Ben penned a sweet note to his wife on Instagram, saying: "Can't quite believe another year has gone past, suddenly this one feels all the more poignant because of what’s happening.
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ITV)"16 years married to @mrsannieshephard 25 years together, and it's fair to say the current climate is seriously testing the strength of her feelings towards me." However, Ben has revealed that his mum can come between them, and the way she treats him is apparently a bit of a sticking point in their marriage.
When GMB co-host Kate started a debate last summer on whether mothers should stop pampering their sons, Ben admitted his wife dislikes how his mum 'spoils' him. But he argued that Annie does the same with their two boys.
He said: "My wife with my boys does look after them and spoils them and does everything for them and my mum probably does that for me. I know Annie gets annoyed about my mum and my relationship and me being spoiled by my mum, and I can see it with her and our boys."
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