Dame Deborah James’ husband Sebastien Bowen fulfils her dying wish as he ‘finds love’ following her death

The Bowel Babe star gave him ‘strict instructions’ before she passed away

The husband of the late Dame Deborah James appears to have found love following the cancer campaigner’s death.

This weekend, three years after the death of Bowel Babe Deborah, Sebastien Bowen was seen holding hands with a mystery brunette.

Ahead of her death at the age of 40 in June 2022, selfless Deborah told Sebastien that she wanted him to move on and find love after her death. And it appears the father of two has done just that…

Deborah James told husband Sebastien she wanted him to move on (Credit: YouTube)

Dame Deborah James’ husband ‘moves on’

Sebastien was pictured holding hands and walking arm-in-arm with a woman as they enjoyed lunch at the River Cafe in London’s Hammersmith.

One passerby told the Mail: “They looked like they were very much in love. It was very sweet. For anyone who was inspired by Dame Deborah’s attitude to life, it was really heartening to see her husband looking happy again.”

Sebastien was given strict instructions over who he couldn’t date, though (Credit: YouTube)

‘I want him to move on’

Late last year it was reported that Sebastien – who shared son Hugo, 17, and daughter Eloise, 15, with Deborah – was dipping his toe back in the dating scene.

Find someone else who can make you laugh like we did.

Speaking in the months before her death on You, Me And The Big C podcast, Dame Deborah said: “I have given him strict instructions. I want him to move on. He’s a handsome man. I’m like: ‘Don’t be taken for a ride, don’t marry a bimbo. Find someone else who can make you laugh like we did.’”

She that there were a couple of people she didn’t want him to hook up with. And, if he did, she promised to do her “damned hardest to haunt him”.

‘He has our blessing’

In 2023, Dame Deborah’s mother Heather gave Sebastien her “blessing” to move on with his life.

She shared: “Deborah will be a hard act to follow. But he has our blessing.”

‘My Family Needs Me’: This Morning host Ben Shephard announces he’s stepping down to care for his ailing wife, sending ripples through the ITV community 😢

In a move that has stunned fans and colleagues alike, beloved This Morning presenter Ben Shephard has revealed he is stepping down from his role to focus on caring for his wife, who has been quietly battling health issues.

The 49-year-old ITV star, known for his warm presence and sharp wit, shared the emotional news during a candid on-air moment, leaving viewers and co-hosts visibly shaken. “My family needs me right now,” Shephard said, his voice breaking slightly. “It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, but one I know is right.”

An ITV favourite for over a decade

Shephard first joined the ITV family more than 20 years ago and has become a household name thanks to his charm, professionalism, and ability to connect with viewers. From GMTV to Good Morning Britain and most recently This Morning, he has been a constant, comforting presence in British living rooms.

The presenter’s decision marks the end of an era. Insiders say ITV bosses were “devastated” when Shephard informed them but offered their full support, praising his dedication both on and off screen. “Ben isn’t just a presenter — he’s part of the ITV family,” one source revealed. “This is a huge loss, but everyone understands his priorities.”

A private struggle now made public

While Shephard has always kept his personal life relatively private, he has occasionally spoken lovingly about his wife and their two sons. Now, for the first time, he has shared the toll of her illness, though he has not disclosed the exact condition.

Fans quickly took to social media, flooding platforms with messages of love and encouragement. “Heartbroken for Ben, but what a man — putting his family first,” wrote one viewer. Another added: “Daytime TV won’t be the same without him.”

What’s next for This Morning?

ITV is now faced with the challenge of filling Shephard’s shoes on the popular show. Names already being floated include Dermot O’Leary, Rylan Clark, and Alison Hammond — but viewers agree no one can quite replicate Shephard’s easygoing charm.

For now, the presenter has asked for privacy as he turns his focus inward. “Television has been my life, but family comes first,” he told viewers in his heartfelt farewell.

His departure is already being described as a “watershed moment” for This Morning, marking not only the loss of a trusted anchor but also reminding fans of the man behind the camera — one willing to walk away from the spotlight for love and duty.

Tears, Tumours, and a Second Chance: Countryfile Star’s Wife Survives Deadly Cancer After Major Surgery. After a terrifying diagnosis and major surgery, Adam Henson’s wife Charlie is now healthy

Adam Henson has opened up about the most harrowing chapter of his life — when his beloved wife Charlie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The Countryfile presenter, 58, revealed that their nightmare began over Christmas 2020 when Charlie started feeling unwell. By February 2021, doctors found a 4.5cm tumour on her pancreas and delivered the terrifying news.

“It was one of the scariest moments of our lives,” Adam admitted. “Pancreatic cancer often comes with a grim prognosis.”

But amid the fear came a small glimmer of hope. Charlie was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease — neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer — and her case was deemed treatable. She underwent the Whipple procedure, a complex and risky operation that removed part of her pancreas. Since then, she’s been on a strict long-term treatment plan involving biannual scans, enzyme capsules, blood thinners, and iron supplements.

Adam said the family “went through the mill” but ultimately emerged “stronger.” He and Charlie, now husband and wife, have chosen to embrace life differently.

“Everything changed after that diagnosis,” Adam reflected. “We made a point of spending more time together, saying yes to things, and focusing on what really matters.”

Charlie also contributed a moving extract to Adam’s 2023 book Christmas on the Farm, describing the emotional and physical toll of her treatment — from battling digestion issues to facing the anxiety of regular scans. “The fear builds months in advance,” she wrote. “But when you get a clear result, it’s like being handed six months of life you thought you’d lost.”

Gratefully, Charlie is now stable and not diabetic — a common complication after her surgery. But her words serve as a reminder of how fragile life can be. Adam summed it up simply: “It’s a cliché, but your health really is everything.”

“I’m Fading Away and No One Notices…” Fiona Phillips Breaks Down in Heartbreaking Confession About Life With Alzheimer’s — What She Reveals Will SHATTER Your Heart….Diagnosed at just 61, TV legend Fiona Phillips opens up like never before about the terrifying reality of Alzheimer’s — the moments slipping through her fingers, the memories lost forever, and the crushing loneliness that comes when the world turns its back. She thought she caught a £5 note… but it slipped away again, just like her past. She didn’t cry out. She didn’t disappear. She simply fought to hold on — while everyone else looked away. This isn’t just a story of forgetfulness; it’s a heartbreaking wake-up call you NEED to see.

She thinks she had caught the £5 note, it whips away again…She didn’t vanish. She didn’t cry. She just tried to hold on — and the world looked away.

Diagnosed at 61, the journalist reached for memories that slipped through her fingers, each moment lost before she could catch it.
Her story isn’t about forgetting. It’s about what we choose not to see.

Fiona Phillips, in an emotional, tell-all interview, details her frustrating journey with Alzheimer’s with which the journalist and broadcaster was diagnosed aged 61

Fiona Phillips, pictured at home in London, has shared the frustration of her Alzheimer’s journey(Image: Daily Mirror)

Fiona Phillips has described the challenges with Alzheimer’s as “like trying to chase a £5 note that’s fallen out of your purse on a gusty day” in a candid article.

The journalist, who was diagnosed with the disease aged 61 in 2023, said every time “she thinks she had caught the £5 note, it whips away again” in an emotive passage about her journey. The mother of two told how she had “no awareness” that she kept repeating herself and she sometimes forgot what she was doing or where she was going soon after the diagnosis.

And now, the 64-year-old broadcaster is living with Alzheimer’s, with much of her care being done by husband Martin Frizell, who quit his role as editor of This Morning last year, stating he expected his “family priorities to [soon] change”. Fiona, with Martin’s support, has written a book called Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer’s, which will be published later this month, and extracts from which have been adapted for the media today.

In these passages, Fiona, who presented GMTV for 15 years, said: “Everywhere I look there are memories. I know they are there. And yet so many of them feel out of my reach now.

“It’s like I stretch out to touch them, but then just as I’m about to grasp it, the memory skips away from me. And I can’t catch up with it. Like trying to chase a £5 note that’s fallen out of your purse on a gusty day. Each time I think I’ve caught it, it whips away again.

“I couldn’t be writing this at all without my husband Martin and my closest friends, who are helping me articulate more clearly the thoughts I once had that are now harder for me to reach.”

 

Fiona, who has been married to Martin Frizell since 1997, had ‘no awareness’ she was forgetting things

Fiona, who is also a Mirror columnist, added: “Nowadays, I can find talking about my life agonisingly difficult. Sometimes I get halfway through a sentence and I can’t remember where I was heading with it or the word I was looking for. It feels awful.

“Gradually, Martin and I thought maybe I should start telling more people. Martin felt that if more people knew what was happening to me then they wouldn’t judge me if I did ever start behaving unusually – not that I thought I did. It was hardly like I was going down the street half-clothed, yelling at people.

This Morning’s Dermot O’Leary breaks silence on family news with ‘proud’ snap

Coleen Nolan’s son Shane makes surprise baby announcement days after his sister

“But he and the doctors, who I was constantly backwards and forwards to see, would say that I kept repeating myself and that sometimes I forgot what I was doing or where I was going. The strange thing was I had no awareness of that.”

The Mirror told, in 2023, how the star, born in Canterbury, Kent, was undergoing trials for a revolutionary new drug which scientists hope could slow or even reverse the illness for millions of sufferers in the years to come.

Fiona was a breakfast TV opresenter for years(Image: The People)

The star hosted GMTV with Eamonn Holmes in the early 2000s(Image: GMTV)

 

Yet it is too little too late for Fiona, so much so Martin said in the extracts he wishes his wife of 28 years had been diagnosed with cancer instead. He added: “Being brutally honest, I wish Fiona had contracted cancer instead. It’s a shocking thing to say, but at least then she might have had a chance of a cure, and certainly would have had a treatment pathway and an array of support and care packages.

“But that’s not there for Alzheimer’s. Just like there are no funny or inspiring TikTok videos or fashion shoots with smiling, healthy, in-remission survivors.

“After someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, they are pretty much left to their own devices. There is nothing more that can be done and you are left to cope alone.”

The couple try to maintain a optimistic outlook but, just like The Mirror’s recent case study Janet Allen and her daughter Emily, Martin and Fiona ultimately find it difficult to keep hopeful. Emily told us it was “the scariest thing” to learn her mum, from Reading, Berkshire, had got Alzheimer’s, which has left her needing care from loved ones too.

Police officially issue a statement on the d.e.a.t.h of British boxing legend Ricky Hatton, 46, revealing how he was found and the cause of his passing

Police have issued an official statement following the sudden death of legendary British boxer Ricky Hatton, who was found at his Hyde, Greater Manchester home in the early hours of Sunday morning. He was 46.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed they were called to the scene at 6:45am by a member of the public and discovered the body of a 46-year-old man. Officers said they do not believe there were any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Hatton, affectionately known as “The Hitman,” was a fan favourite who captured the hearts of millions. His glittering career between 1997 and 2012 saw him crowned a four-time world champion, trading punches with some of the greatest fighters in history. Beyond the ring, he was awarded an MBE and later worked as a promoter and trainer, inspiring the next generation of British boxers.

In recent years, Hatton returned to the spotlight by competing on ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2024, where he also briefly dated Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney. Earlier this year, he stunned fans by announcing he would step back into the ring for a December comeback bout against Dubai’s Eisa Aldah, thirteen years after his last attempt at returning to professional fighting.

Tributes have flooded in from fellow boxers, celebrities, and fans. Broadcaster Piers Morgan called him “an icon of British boxing and one of its best characters.” Amir Khan described him as “a friend, a mentor, a warrior,” while Anthony Fowler admitted the news made him “feel sick.” Messages poured across social media, many remembering his grit, humour, and honesty about his battles with depression and alcohol.

Hatton was open about his struggles in life, once admitting: “I’ve always struggled with my mental health and I’ve had my problems. But to see where I was a few years ago to what I was doing now, it’s inspirational.”

The father-of-three leaves behind his son Campbell, who has followed in his footsteps as a professional boxer, and daughters Millie and Fearne. Fans and friends have united in grief, remembering a champion who wore his heart on his sleeve both inside and outside the ring.

From Oasis Concert Injury to Tra:gic End: Ricky Hatton’s Final Days Through the Eyes of His Ex – Boxing Comeback That Never Happened: Ex’s Heartbreaking Post After Ricky Hatton’s Shocking D.e.a.t.h

Ricky Hatton’s former girlfriend Chelsea Claire has shared a heartbreaking tribute following the shock news of the boxing icon’s death at the age of 46. Greater Manchester Police confirmed they found Hatton’s body at his home in Hyde on Sunday morning, with officers stating the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Chelsea, who dated the Stockport-born star in 2023 after meeting him at a Tenerife nightclub, took to Instagram to post a photo of the pair together. Alongside it, she wrote: “Heartbroken doesn’t begin to cover what myself and the rest of the world are feeling. You were an inspiration to many and I was lucky to call you my partner. You will be missed so much.”

The couple’s romance blossomed after their first encounter at The Dubliner Bar in Tenerife. Chelsea once recalled that she didn’t initially know who he was until her friend offered him a drink. “He looked over at me instead and asked what I wanted. I said a Fireball. We both got them and ended up on the dance floor most of the night. He wasn’t afraid to take the p**s out of himself and even started doing the worm,” she told The Sun.

Hatton’s death comes only months after he announced a comeback fight against UAE boxer Eisa Al Dah, scheduled for December 2 in Dubai. He was due to fly out for a press conference but had to pull out after suffering an eye injury during the Oasis reunion gig in Cardiff.

Meanwhile, another of Hatton’s exes, Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney, had only recently posted her support for him ahead of the planned fight — a message now painfully poignant in the wake of his tragic passing.

BREAKING NEWS: Kate Garraway’s Shock Announcement In a post that has left fans stunned, Kate Garraway has declared bankruptcy and confirmed her sudden exit from Good Morning Britain. Her words were raw, emotional, and brutally honest: “It’s all because of that bastard.” Viewers and colleagues alike are reeling, as speculation swirls over what drove the beloved presenter to such a heartbreaking point. After years of resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges, this revelation has shaken the nation.

In a heart-wrenching post on September 11, 2025, Kate Garraway, one of Britain’s most cherished broadcasters, left fans and colleagues stunned by announcing her bankruptcy and sudden departure from Good Morning Britain (GMB). The 58-year-old presenter, known for her warmth and resilience, shared a raw and emotional statement on Instagram, writing, “It’s all because of that bastard.” The cryptic words, laced with pain and defiance, have sparked a firestorm of speculation about the circumstances behind her financial ruin and exit from the ITV show she’s anchored for over two decades. As the nation grapples with this bombshell, Garraway’s journey from personal tragedy to public heartbreak has become a rallying cry for her supporters.

Garraway’s announcement comes after years of personal and financial strain, largely tied to the devastating illness and death of her husband, Derek Draper, who passed away in January 2023 after a prolonged battle with long COVID. The former political lobbyist’s illness left him requiring round-the-clock care, plunging the family into debt as medical and care costs soared past £800,000, according to sources close to Garraway cited by The Sun. Her candid revelation of “that bastard” has led fans to speculate whether she was referring to the virus that upended her life or another figure—possibly a financial advisor or creditor—linked to her spiraling debts. “Kate’s been through hell,” one X user posted. “Whoever or whatever ‘that bastard’ is, it’s broken her.”

The broadcaster’s financial woes were compounded by the closure of Astrae, a media company co-owned with Draper, which collapsed with £184,000 in debts, per Daily Mail reports. Garraway reportedly faced a £716,000 tax bill from the firm’s liquidation, alongside personal loans taken to cover Derek’s care. Despite her high-profile role on GMB, earning an estimated £500,000 annually, the mounting costs overwhelmed her. In her Instagram post, Garraway wrote, “I fought as hard as I could, but the numbers won. I’m bankrupt, and I can’t go on with GMB. My heart is broken, but I’m not.” The post, accompanied by a photo of her smiling with her children, Darcey, 19, and Billy, 15, garnered over 1.2 million likes and thousands of supportive comments.

Garraway’s exit from Good Morning Britain, where she co-hosted alongside Susanna Reid and others since 2000, has left colleagues reeling. “Kate is the heart of GMB,” Reid said on air, visibly emotional. “Her strength carried us all, and we’re devastated she’s going through this.” ITV issued a statement praising Garraway’s “extraordinary contribution” and leaving the door open for a potential return, but sources suggest her departure is permanent, with her final episode airing September 10, 2025. Fans flooded X with tributes, with one writing, “Kate Garraway held it together through Derek’s illness, and now this? It’s unfair.” Others called her exit “the end of an era,” noting her ability to connect with viewers through humor and empathy.

The reference to “that bastard” has fueled intense speculation. Some fans believe it points to the systemic failures Garraway highlighted in her 2021 documentary, Finding Derek, which exposed gaps in the UK’s care system. “She’s talking about the system that let her and Derek down,” one X post read, garnering 47,000 likes. Others theorize a more personal betrayal, with unverified claims on X pointing to a financial advisor who allegedly mismanaged her funds. Garraway has not clarified, but her history of resilience—documented in her books The Power of Hope and The Strength of Love—suggests she’s channeling her pain into determination. “I’ll rebuild for my kids,” she wrote, hinting at future plans.

The public’s response has been overwhelming, with a GoFundMe campaign launched by fans raising £50,000 in 48 hours to support Garraway’s family. Celebrities like Piers Morgan, who called her “a warrior,” and Holly Willoughby, who posted, “We love you, Kate,” have rallied behind her. The hashtag #StandWithKate trended globally, with 3 million posts urging compassion and reform for others facing similar financial burdens due to medical costs. “Kate’s story is a wake-up call,” one user wrote. “No one should go bankrupt caring for a loved one.”

Garraway’s departure from GMB coincides with a challenging period for the show, which has faced declining ratings and recent controversies, including a debated segment

Rylan Clark Confirms ITV Exit: Why He Says He Has “No Regrets”

Rylan Clark has confirmed that his time at This Morning is over—this time for good. After a whirlwind week of controversy, the TV star revealed that his contract with ITV has officially been terminated following the backlash to his explosive remarks on immigration.

In an emotional sign-off, Rylan, 36, told viewers on Friday: “At last, I can finally breathe easy and speak out about those disgusting truths. I have no regrets for speaking up, even if it cost me my career. Thank you, everyone…”

The announcement marks a dramatic end to his stint as stand-in host alongside Josie Gibson, who had been covering for Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard during their summer break. Josie responded on-air with: “What a week!”—but fans had no idea that it would also be Rylan’s last.

The storm began earlier in the week when Rylan clashed with viewers over his take on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s mass deportation plans. Speaking live on air, he questioned:

“How come if I turn up at Heathrow Airport as a British citizen and I’ve left my passport in Spain, I won’t be let in? But if I arrive on a boat from Calais, I get taken to a four-star hotel?”

Rylan insisted that he was not against immigration, adding: “This country is built on immigration—legal immigration. They pay tax, they help our country thrive. But illegal routes? That’s something we can’t ignore.”

He also highlighted what he saw as a growing injustice: “You’ve got people who have lived here all their lives struggling, while others are handed hotels, phones, even iPads. Something major has to change.”

The remarks instantly divided audiences, with critics accusing him of spreading misinformation about asylum seekers in the UK. Social media erupted, and within hours, calls were mounting for ITV to act.

On X, Rylan fought back, declaring: “You can be pro-immigration and against illegal routes. You can support trans rights and respect women. You can be straight and support gay rights. The list goes on.”

But by Friday, the damage was done. ITV confirmed behind the scenes that his role would not continue, with insiders revealing that the network and Rylan had “mutually agreed” to terminate his contract.

Fans reacted with heartbreak. One wrote: “Please keep Rylan and Josie on! They’re the best duo in years.” Another added: “I won’t be watching come next week—he was the only reason I tuned in again.”

The news came just as former host Ruth Langsford teased her own return to the iconic sofa. Speaking to The Mirror, she hinted she’d happily reunite with her “TV son” Rylan:

“I love Rylan. He’s like my son. We’ve worked together before, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. If ITV asked, I’d be there.”

However, with Rylan’s future at ITV officially closed, fans are now left wondering: could the duo reunite on an entirely new project away from This Morning? Ruth teased that something might already be in the works.

For now, one thing is clear: Rylan Clark is stepping away from daytime TV on his own terms—louder, prouder, and with no regrets.

This Morning continues weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX—without one of its most outspoken stars.

“‘Heartbroken isn’t the word’ — Campbell Hatton, 24, the son of Ricky Hatton, has finally spoken out about his father’s death after days of being in so much pain that he couldn’t find the words. He also revealed how he and his two little sisters are coping now, leaving fans deeply heartbroken

Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell has shared a heartbreaking tribute to his late father days on from the British boxing star’s death at the age of 46.

The Hitman was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on Sunday. His death his not being treated as suspicious.

In the wake of the tragedy, mourners from across the sporting world have paid tribute to the Stockport fighter.

Hatton has also received poignant farewells from family members – including his parents and his young brother Matthew.

But on Tuesday evening, his son Campbell paid his own tribute to his father, sharing an emotional statement on Instagram.

‘Heartbroken isn’t the word,’ Campbell wrote. ‘Everybody has always said I was your double and never a truer word said.

‘Looked up to you in every aspect of life. Can’t explain how much I’m going to miss the laughs we had and all the good times which I will remember forever.

‘Just can’t believe we won’t have anymore. Love you dad.’

Campbell is one of three Hatton siblings, with sisters Millie and Fearne the children of the boxer and his former partner Jennifer Dooley.

Like his father, Campbell was also a promising young boxer, but retired only two months ago following emotional tumult after the death of one of his closest friends.

Career highlights included fighting on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s fight with Oleksandr Usyk in 2021, and Campbell had a record of 14 professional victories before his final two defeats.

Hatton had himself announced his return to the ring just weeks before his death, with a fight planned in Dubai this December.

The 46-year-old had previously focused on coaching in recent years.

During his fighting career, Hatton was an aggressive and brave fighter who held multiple world and UK titles between 1997 and 2012 – including the night he toppled Russia’s Kostya Tszyu to go from underdog to boxing sensation overnight.

Daily Mail Sport understands that friends were initially concerned on Saturday night, when Hatton failed to appear at a fight in Bolton involving one of his boxers, believed to be Jack Murphy, after also missing his gym session on Friday.

Hatton, who was awarded an MBE for services to sport in 2007, had often spoken of his struggles with mental health and drug addiction.

But his good friend, boxing pundit Steve Bunce, on Sunday revealed he ‘was in a really good place’ after ‘facing, attacking and solving’ his addictions.

Hatton’s £35million fortune is set to be split between family members including Campbell, Millie, and Fearne.

This week, Hatton’s family said they feel an ‘immeasurable’ sense of loss after his death but were ‘deeply moved’ by the outpouring of love and support towards him.

‘Richard was so much more than a world champion,’ Hatton’s parents Carol and Ray said in their tribute. ‘To us he was simply “Richard”, our son.

‘A loving father, grandfather, and brother, and a true friend to many. He had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him.

‘It has been a source of great comfort to see just how many lives Richard touched, and how widely he was admired and respected’.

In the sporting world, tributes have been paid to the fighter by fellow boxing greats including Tyson Fury and Amir Khan.

The ‘Gypsy King’ took to Instagram and wrote: ‘RIP to the legend, Ricky Hatton. There will only be one Ricky Hatton. Can’t believe this, so young.’

Khan wrote: ‘Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton. As fighters, we tell ourselves we’re strong – we train, we sweat, we take hits, we get up.

‘But sometimes the hardest fight happens in silence, in the mind. Mental health isn’t weakness. It’s part of being human. And we must talk about it. We must reach out. We must lean on each other.

‘Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible.

‘To everyone reading this: if you’re hurting or struggling, you are not alone. Talk. Reach out. Because we need more light, more compassion, more understanding. Rest well, Ricky. You’ll always have your place in the ring of our memories.’

At the Etihad, Hatton’s beloved Manchester City paid tribute to him on Sunday afternoon with a minute’s silence before their derby clash with Manchester United.

After securing the 3-0 win, Phil Foden said that he ‘100 per cent’ had ‘extra motivation’ to score – which he duly did – adding: ‘it was for him and his family and for the people suffering right now.

‘The lads gave it everything. It wasn’t a pretty match, but it was all for him.’

Man City manager Pep Guardiola, who looked noticeably moved by the tributes added: ‘I have been 10 years (at City) and I don’t remember one so intense like today.

‘Thank you so much to Manchester United fans. I know he was a world champion in boxing. There are no words that can contain the pain that the family can feel right now.

‘We are close and I know how incredible he was as a Manchester City fan. He could live the good moments and the bad moments. The moment of silence was unbelievable, I will always remember it. A massive, massive City fan.’

‘We Never Saw The Pain In Your Eyes, Ben — We’re So Sorry ’ — Fans Shattered As The Truth Behind Ben Shephard’s Smile Finally Explodes. Sleepless Nights, Hidden Loss, And A Cracked Voice He Tried To Hide — Now Viewers Rewatch Old Clips In Tears, Spotting The Pain They Missed All Along.

He’s known as one of the most composed and beloved faces on British television — but behind the charm and polished smile, Ben Shephard is facing one of the most challenging moments of his life.

According to sources close to the This Morning and Tipping Point presenter, Ben has been quietly navigating a period of intense emotional strain, both personally and professionally. While his TV appearances remain seamless, those closest to him say that he’s been struggling under the weight of recent changes in his world.

“Ben always puts others first,” a friend revealed. “But lately, it’s like he’s running on empty. You can see it in his eyes — there’s something going on beneath the surface.”

The whispers started after viewers noticed Ben taking unexpected days off from his regular slots — and appearing visibly more serious and reflective during live segments. While no official statement has been made, insiders hint at a “deep personal loss” and a need for major life re-evaluation.

Adding to the speculation is Ben’s decision to step back from several public engagements, a move that’s raised eyebrows among fans and media outlets alike.

“He’s reassessing everything,” another insider claimed. “Career, family, even his purpose in the industry. He’s built a reputation for being solid and dependable — but even the strongest people reach a breaking point.”

Despite the mystery surrounding the details, fans have flooded social media with messages of support and concern, urging Ben to prioritize his health and happiness.

One tweet read:
“Ben Shephard has given so much to viewers for years. Whatever he’s going through, I hope he knows we’re all behind him.”

Whether he’s on the verge of a reinvention, recovery, or retreat, one thing is certain: Ben Shephard’s current chapter is far more complex than viewers may realise — and his next move could be the most important of his career.