Ben Shephard preparing for 'slow, long rehab' as he recovers from surgery on football injury

Ben Shephard has said he is preparing to start "very slow, long" rehab as he recovers from surgery to his knee.

The Good Morning Britain presenter told his 474k followers he was feeling okay after undergoing an operation repair a torn ligament and cartilage in his right knee following a football injury.

Shephard, 46, shared a video form his hospital bed saying: "Thank you for all the amazing lovely messages. For those who didn't know I ruptured my ACL and tore my meniscus in my knee playing football.

"They've repaired [them] and now starts the rehab. Very slow long rehab."

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The Tipping Point presenter added: "I have to say thought the pain killers seem to be doing the job right now."

But he revealed he had once presented GMB whilst taking very strong painkillers.

He said: "I can't believe I broadcast on painkillers like this a few years back. Kate Garraway and Susanna Reid - what were you thinking letting me broadcast when I felt like this?!"

Showing off his knee post-surgery - wrapped in a brace and swabbed with iodine antiseptic which stains the skin orange - he joked "That's not fake tan by the way, I promise. Despite my Essex roots, I didn't fake tan before my surgery."

Shephard also showed off a picture of his leg before his operation, joking about the surgeon's arrow being drawn on the correct leg and making fun of his "super stylish" hospital socks.

The TV presenter injured his knee whilst playing a school reunion match with his old class mates from Chigwell independent school at the end of May. They were competing for the Arthur Dunn Challenge Cup - a tournament between Old Boys public school teams and beat the veterans from Brentwood School 3-1.

He later revealed on Good Morning Britain: "A few weeks to go, you may remember I played in the Cup Final of the Arthur Dunn veterans cup, my old boy's team.

"We won the Cup Final, but I started with two legs and ended with one.

“Without realising, I have ruptured my ACL, I've torn the meniscus and I've fractured part of my leg as well."

Dr Hilary Jones told him it was a "nasty injury".

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Shephard is a keen footballed and has taken part in celebrity charity tournament Soccer Aid, playing for England since 2006. IN 2018 he did not take part due to injury but was instead appointed England Coach.

He did not compete in Soccer Aid 2020.

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