Kate's still top dog
GMTV Ben says new girl has a lot to learn
GMTV pin-up boy Ben Shepherd last night dropped a bombshell on the brekkie show's sofa with a WITHERING assessment of new presenter Emma Crosby.
Co-host Ben told the News of the World about the Sky News babe: "She's got a steep learning curve."
And, in a comment that will raise eyebrows among viewers, he declared Kate Garraway would still be the show's "top DOG".
"The first time I ever saw Emma on TV was the other day in my hotel room," said Ben, clearly smarting over GMTV's decision to replace departing Fiona Phillips with the Sky business news presenter.
"I was surprised to hear her name. It's a very big job-GMTV does not have a narrow focus like business. She'll have to get her head around a lot. We have to go from interviewing the Prime Minister one moment to talking about X Factor."
Ben admitted he had backed pal Kate to get Fiona's top slot-but GMTV have declared that all presenters are now on an equal footing. He said: "In my opinion she is the top dog on the show. I absolutely love working with her."
Emma, 31, landed the plum £250,000-a-year role after Fiona quit to spend more time with her family.
Despite Ben's uncomfortable welcome, Emma said: "I'm very excited to be joining Britain's leading breakfast programme and working with Kate, who is a great talent."
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This article has 30 comments
I know what Ben means,
And I dont think that she is as good as Fiona, not as natural, or easy to listen to...
x
By boo. Posted June 8 2009 at 9:05 PM.
I used to love watching gmtv,but ever since emma crosby has joined,i simply dont find it enjoyable to watch.She has no personality,not easy to listen to,it does not come across as natural unlike all the other gmtv presenters.
I think GMTV made a big mistake!
By lisa bellringer. Posted June 5 2009 at 8:28 AM.
how patronising is Ben?!! It always seems to me that Kate is having a go at him, so it surprises me that he thinks she is so great! Miss Fiona but at least we won't have Kate all the time, give the new woman a chance!e
By Julis. Posted January 22 2009 at 11:10 PM.
i agree with mark. i personallly that kate garraway is the sexiest woman alive and that i am glad that fiona is gone she became too much of a know it all.
garraway forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Andrew Mayhew. Posted January 9 2009 at 12:41 PM.
Why do any of you guys watch gmtv, they all do a fantastic job who wants to wake up and be miserable.
I am sure that Emma will come to grow on all of us and l wish her luck which she probably doesen't need, but until then the others are great to watch serious when needed, sympathetic, and also humorous, when do you get that kind of mix in any other program. Keep up the good work.
By Jean. Posted December 21 2008 at 9:02 PM.
Surely Ben should know a little more about TV, if he had not heard of Emma Crosby before it doesn't say much about his knowledge of UK TV. Emma is an accomplished journalist and is great on screen. Sky's loss is GMTV's gain.
By James. Posted December 18 2008 at 4:56 PM.
I agree with Ben. It'll be tough for a highly intelligent reporter to deal with leaving the simple, 'narrow focus' of business and entering the high-brow, cerebral world of celebrity tittle-tattle and intellectual musing of the GMTV sofa, an environment where even the massively gifted Shepherd occasionally comes across as a man so astonishingly cretinous, it's a miracle he can remember to breathe in and out without going cross-eyed.
Moron.
By Julie . Posted November 28 2008 at 9:57 PM.
I don't think there was much to choose between Fiona and Kate. Penny should have been given the job, she is much more down to earth. I also think Claire Nasir would be an assett on the sofa.
Kate is too irritating.
By Chris. Posted November 28 2008 at 3:46 PM.
....there can be no doubt bringing Emma on to the GMTV sofa is an inspired decision; Ben is unquestionably a mega light weight, Kate is fortunately easy on the eye and enthusiastic and Andrew Castle though he has clearly improved from a very low point, he is the biggest sycophant on a sycophantic sofa...
Let's hope that playing with a weaker team will not lower Emma's standard and will raise the bar much higher at GMTV - for desperation's sake we need it...the alternative of Bill's cynical views and pathetic lack of talent leave us with no BBC alternative.
A shame for the Sky news programme losing Emma!
Employee of GMTV!
By max. Posted November 24 2008 at 5:24 PM.
Emma Crosby has a news background and is a journalist. Ben is a complete light-weight. I can't believe his comments! It's about time GMTV brought us a proper programme and ditched Ben and Andrew and brought us a couple of good looking but accomplished male anchors...and they should start by looking at Sky News again and the huge talent there. Steve Dixon could do Ben's job with his eyes shut. Colin Brazer wouldnt be bad either
By Clare Robinson. Posted November 24 2008 at 12:12 PM.
I like Fiona but will be the first to admit that her interview skills were very poor.The only reason Ben has made these comments is because he knows that with Fiona gone he will become GMTV's worst presenter.He is ok with z-list nobodies because his interview style and their answers are on the same dreadful level.Apart from him all the rest are excellent and Emma,who i have been a big fan of for many years,will be wonderful in her new role.
By Gaz. Posted November 24 2008 at 10:06 AM.
will miss Fiona, she was great, but for heavens sake give this new girl a chance!
By Anne Besaw. Posted November 23 2008 at 5:05 PM.
kate should have left, fiona was great but the best of the best is penny she is so down to earth not stuck up i love me and only me kate. everything about penny is real not like kate know what i mean penny is number one we only watch gmtv just for penny.
By norma cox. Posted November 23 2008 at 4:23 PM.
Please not the mighty mouth as Top Dog. Please send her to the BBC.
By Tom . Posted November 23 2008 at 3:55 PM.
I cannot believe that kate didn't get fiona's job she's been there longer and knows whats what i'm not looking forward to the new girl emma taking over to me Kate is the top dog not her
mes still upset that Fionas leaving mes gonna miss her so much all the best Fiona
suppose i should say that to Kate, Ben and Andrew to good luck guys
By Rachel Andrew. Posted November 23 2008 at 3:41 PM.
I am only sorry that Kate is STAYING because I find her so irritating as I did Fiona.It would be nice to have people who do this job not to talk over one another,it seems the only people on the GMTV settee are the men atleast they dont talk over other people.
By mary. Posted November 23 2008 at 2:58 PM.
Like interviewing the prime minister?.... "you call them interviews" ... you let politicians come on your show and they want to because they arent interviewed and can say what they came to say... soft... its light weight and maybe too light weight for her!
By Clarioneer. Posted November 23 2008 at 2:21 PM.
Ben came from doing one day a week on Entertainment today & is totally out of his depth on the GMTV sofa. He's like a little boy dressing up as an adult & hasn't got a clue how to deal with the serious news stories.
Can't stand Kate she is so irritating & forever going on about that child of hers. Emma is a natural, very pretty & professional, do like Penny though but her age has probably gone against her!
By Angela Pearson. Posted November 23 2008 at 2:16 PM.
ben is the most irritating presenter on tv.
he is so stuck up and looks down on any normal guests. the politicians and intelligent people get talked over by him as he is out of his depth.
By emily james. Posted November 23 2008 at 1:50 PM.
the darling kate should be on gmtv 5 mornings a week on her own so we can just look at her and not anyone else,she is a babe x x x x x
By sam. Posted November 23 2008 at 1:06 PM.
Kate is so beautiful and so natural. I love her eyes her smile and her sexy little lisp. she is gorgeous and i cant believe they would bring anyone else in. Penny is nice but a bit too silly. Kate is definately top, but the lady is no dog. she is amazing
By Brian. Posted November 23 2008 at 1:05 PM.
Poor little bitter ben...never
mind, theres always strickly for
you next year son...!!
By Joe Shirley. Posted November 23 2008 at 12:20 PM.
Poor little bitter ben....never
mind theres always strickly
for you next year son..!!
By Joe Shirley. Posted November 23 2008 at 12:17 PM.
I am so glad Fiona has gone could not stand the woman, and as everyone says Kate talks over everyone. I like Penny she seems more down to earth and she always appears happy.
By Laura. Posted November 23 2008 at 12:15 PM.
It's about GMTV had a make over starting with Kate and Kate's twin brother Andrew Castle, they all share the same bad habit of talking all over their guests and not listening. Penny doesn't take herself too seriously and that's why she OK to watch. Be should give Emma a chance to settle in or is he frightened that she'll outshine the rest of them.
By Jenners Golding. Posted November 23 2008 at 11:24 AM.
Ben does have his short comings with interviewing certain people but emma crosby has the personality of a skip. Unless ITV are looking to change the structure of the show IE more serious etc i feel she is a bad appointment.
By penny. Posted November 23 2008 at 9:09 AM.
Fiona was a smug ugly annoying woman. Glad she has gone long live kate
By penny. Posted November 23 2008 at 8:31 AM.
Emma Crosby has a news background. Has Ben ever read a newspaper (from the front)?
How dare Ben suggest she's not ready for the job: it's Ben who struggles massively with the more "serious" stuff. It's embarrassing to watch him try to grill Alistair Darling, Jacqui Smith etc.
By MARK. Posted November 23 2008 at 8:30 AM.
Fiona was the best but I agree Penny should have got the job, she is very entertaining;)
By Carolyn Crumpton. Posted November 23 2008 at 3:05 AM.
Dog is right what a Z lister.............Give Penny the job
By Leroy. Posted November 23 2008 at 12:32 AM.