This Morning hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley are set to take a break from the ITV show for half term, with a message having been issued by Ben on social media about it

Presenter Ben Shephard has announced that he is taking a break from This Morning alongside co-host Cat Deeley.

Ben, 50, and Cat, 48, will temporarily be away from the ITV show next week amid half term. The pair have previously had school holidays off, like former hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, who they replaced last year.

The news was confirmed by Ben in a post on his Instagram page following Thursday’s episode. He announced that they will be “back in the studio after half term” alongside a series of photos from that morning’s edition of This Morning.

He wrote in the caption: “Ahhh lovely end of the week for me and @catdeeley Thanks for all your messages. I hope everyone is ready for some hardcore valentines/palentines/galentines (delete where appropriate) action!!” Ben added: “We’ll be back in the studio after half term!! Thanks @kenmckayphoto for these ace pics too.”

Their replacements have yet to be confirmed, though it’s expected that Dermot O’Leary, 51, and Alison Hammond, 50 – who front the show on Fridays each week – will cover for them next week. It wouldn’t be the first time they have replaced Ben and Cat, having done so during the last half term in October and November last year, for example.

Ben’s post was met with reaction from fans, who expressed well wishes over his break from hosting the show. One person wrote: “Have a nice week off.” Another said: “Always nice to see you on Ben. Enjoy your half term.” Whilst a third wrote in the comments section: “Have a super weekend off.”

Ben Shephard (left) has announced that he and Cat Deeley (right) are taking a break from This Morning for half term ( 
Image:
ITV)
His post has amassed more than a thousand likes on the platform. Among those who liked Ben’s post on Instagram this week was his colleague Alison. His former Good Morning Britain colleague Sean Fletcher also shared his support.

Alison typically fronts the magazine show alongside Dermot on Friday mornings. As reported at the time, she was however noticeably absent from an episode earlier this month. Rochelle Humes stood in for her last Friday, presenting alongside Dermot just days after Alison’s 50th birthday.

The milestone occasion came just weeks after colleague Ben celebrated his own 50th birthday. He wrote at the time: “So there we have it! I’ve turned 50. And 50 days ago, I set myself a challenge to be at my fittest. Physically, yes, but also emotionally and mentally.”

Ben went on to thank fans, writing: “This now feels like such a massive part of my life and that’s thanks to you … the challenges you set me, freezing cold swimming, burpees, press ups, rowing, running, to the pull-ups! But what I didn’t expect was how much I’d get from your involvement and support, it really kept me going! What next … laughing yoga anyone?”