Real reason behind Ben Shephard’s This Morning absence revealed as he hosts brutal new game show

THIS Morning star Ben Shephard has signed up to host a brutal new reality competition series for ITV.

The Sun can reveal Ben, 49, will present high-octane show The Summit when the broadcaster launches it next year.

Already a hit in Australia, it will see Brits pushed to their limits when they scale one of the world’s highest mountains - each with a share of the £200,000 jackpot stuffed into their backpacks.

Ben has already jetted off to New Zealand where filming will take place, after announcing his mysterious break from This Morning last week.

An insider said: “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 programme has been kept top secret to avoid spoiling the format and what’s in store for the contestants, who are now all on their way to New Zealand.

“Bosses are hoping it will produce good old-fashioned nail-biting reality TV moments with back-stabbing and strategy, coupled with physical endurance.”

Earlier this year we told how ITV had ordered The Summit, which combines the treachery of The Traitors with the endurance of SAS: Who Dares Wins and Race Around The World.

The brave hikers will face a series of challenges as they battle to scale the peak, all the while voting for the fellow contestants they would most like dumped from the group.

By the end of the series only a handful of the contestants will make it to the top and split the remaining prize pot.

Ben’s new gig comes after it was confirmed Ninja Warrior UK had been shelved for good by ITV after being trumped by the BBC’s reboot of Gladiators.

The dad-of-two hosted the physical obstacle assault show alongside Chris Kamara and Rochelle Humes.