Surprising real reason Ben Shephard is leaving This Morning - and it's not to go on I'm A Celeb

ok.co.uk:

Ben Shephard has taken a break from his hosting duties on This Morning, and there's a surprising reason for his exit. Many speculated that the 49 year old would be making a surprise appearance on this year's I'm a Celebrity...

Get Me Out of Here! however, he'll actually be hosting a new reality TV series. In a video call on This Morning with his co-stars Cat Deeley and Alison Hammond, Ben revealed that he's hosting a new ITV completion series called The Summit that will air next year.

During the chat on Monday, 11 November, Ben said he was in New Zealand to film the show, which will see 14 strangers "try and traverse this mountain to reach the summit across the course of about two weeks." Ben added that as they make their way up the mountain, they'll be met with "all sorts of challenges, all sorts of difficulties, strategic problems." In addition, the contestants will be competing for a cash prize of up to £200,000, with each having a share of the jackpot crammed into their backpacks.

Speaking of his upcoming gig, a source told The Sun: "Ben was the perfect choice to host the UK version of the popular format, given his own interests in fitness and sport as well as hosting Ninja Warior for six series. "He sat down with his bosses on This Morning who have known for a while now and allowed him time off from the sofa to film The Summit." The source added: "Bosses are hoping it will produce good old-fashioned nail-biting reality TV moments with back-stabbing and strategy, coupled with physical endurance." The Summit is thought to combine The Traitors with the endurance of SAS: Who Dares Wins and Race Around The World.