Shephard bids farewell to GMTV sofa (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Shephard bids farewell to GMTV sofa

10:25am Friday 30th July 2010 in National News © Press Association 2011

Ben Shephard told viewers "I will miss you all" as he quit the GMTV sofa after a decade, adding: "Let's have a lie-in."

The father-of-two, who has landed a contract to become a presenter on Sky Sports, was treated to various good luck messages from his "GMTV wives" on Friday.

Shephard's departure from GMTV was confirmed in April and he is among a wave of presenters who are leaving as the ITV1 breakfast show undergoes a massive shake-up.

The programme is soon to be revamped under the name Daybreak, when former One Show presenters Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley will take the helm.

Shephard hugged his co-host Kate Garraway, and smiled as he gave viewers a wave. Offered the "last word" by Garraway, Shephard joked: "I've waited for you to say that for 10 years."

He added: "I'm going to miss Kate more than anything in the world, it's been an absolute pleasure."

He paid tribute to the "fantastic" people he had worked with, including "the guys in the gallery who shout at us".

Addressing viewers, he continued: "And I'm going to miss all of you, every single one of you. Thank you so much for inviting me into your houses, into your bedrooms, into your bathrooms, into your kitchens.

"I will miss you all, I thank you for all the messages. There's lots of things going on and I'm sure I'm going to see you again. But for the time being, let's have a lie in."