LORRAINE viewers were left baffled this morning after a This Morning star took her place.
Ben Shepherd, who co-hosts the ITV magazine show with Cat Deeley, popped to the studio next door in a presenting shake-up.
However there was a good reason to draft in former GMB anchor Ben, after Lorraine bagged the Special Award at last night’s Baftas
The telly queen was welcomed this morning to rapturous applause and a shower of confetti from her crew who donned t-shirts adorned with her face.
Introducing the show, wearing a kilt Ben said: “Good morning, I’m Ben Shepherd and I’m very privileged to be here and a very good reason.
“Today we are celebrating Lorraine being awarded with the special Bafta last night for her incredible contribution to television for the last 40 years.
“So please put your hands together and welcome the wonderful Lorraine.
The bubbly star replied: “Have I not got the best team, it was so good because to many of them were there last night.
“I was surprised myself about how anxious I was and nervous.
“But once I was there, I was with Rosie and Steve, everyone was so nice.”
And after Ben’s gushing introduction to his showbiz pal he rushed across the corridor just in time to take the helm of This Morning.
Lorraine resumed presenting duties and welcomed style guru Mark Hayes to chew over all the gossip from last night’s red carpet.
It comes after Lorraine was overcome with emotion as she was presented with the Special Award at the BAFTA TV Awards.
The 64-year-old watched on a film about her impressive TV career played out and Successionstar Brian Cox paid tribute to the “queen of daytime TV“, who has hosted ITV chat show Lorraine for the past 30 years.