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GOOD Morning Britain anchor Kate Garraway joked her former co-star Ben Shephard was now "dead to us" after he left the show for This Morning.

Ben, 49, a fan favourite on the early-morning ITV series, quit back in February for the fresh role - and later wake-up call.

Kate Garraway joked former GMB co-star Ben Shephard was 'dead to us' as the pair reunited at the Variety Club Show Business Awards
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Kate Garraway joked former GMB co-star Ben Shephard was 'dead to us' as the pair reunited at the Variety Club Show Business AwardsCredit: Rex
Ben fronted his final GMB in February
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Ben fronted his final GMB in FebruaryCredit: Rex
He is now the lead anchor on ITV daytime series This Morning
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He is now the lead anchor on ITV daytime series This MorningCredit: Rex
Kate, 56, jokingly pushed Ben aside as she made her cheeky dig
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Kate, 56, jokingly pushed Ben aside as she made her cheeky digCredit: ITV

He fought back tears on his last Good Morning Britain, which aired on February 23, before heading to the studio next door to front This Morning with Cat Deeley, 47.

Ben's long-time best mate Kate, 56, couldn't resist a dig as the pair reunited at the Variety Awards last night.

Wearing a glam yellow suit and joined by GMB's meteorologist Laura Tobin, 42, Ben gushed over the differences in his new job - including cooked meals and more sleep.

He said: "They cook for us, we get a lie in and it's generally more civilised.

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"Do you know what, I couldn't have done This Morning without my 10 years doing what I do with Kate and Susanna and Charlotte - and Ranvir and Laura being a part of the team as well.

"I mean, the last 10 years has flown by hasn't it?"

Kate, who was seen shaking her head, then jokingly interjected: "He's dead to us, he is dead to us."

She then pushed him aside in a tongue-in-cheek moment showing her storming away.

Earlier in the night, Kate was given an award for her Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting.

All change

Both viewers and co-hosts alike were left hugely upset at Ben's GMB departure.

He had fronted the show for a decade on Thursdays and Fridays with Kate and, prior to that, the pair had worked together on various other ITV daytime shows including GMTV.

At the time of his departure, Ben spoke out about how leaving his show "wife" Kate was the "hardest decision".

This Morning star slams Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard as a 'safe choice' and claims she wasn't asked to present show

In a statement, he said: "I’ve loved hosting Good Morning Britain over the past 10 years since it launched.

"When I left GMTV, I always swore I’d never go back because of the early mornings and it goes to show how wrong I was."

He continued: "I’m grateful that my extended GMB family is only next door so that whenever I get nostalgic, I know I’m not going to being far away.

"Although I’ll miss being on screen with them, my later starts mean I may be able to hang out with them all a bit more!

"One of the hardest decisions of course is knowing that my mornings with Kate, my on-screen wife of nearly 20 years, is coming to an end.

"Her journey has been well documented, and I think we would all agree how remarkable she has been over the last four years.

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"I won’t miss the mess but I’ve learned so much from her, as I have from all of the people I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside.”

Ben has been temporarily replaced on GMB by Adil Ray.

The trio reunited at the Variety Awards where Kate scooped a gong for her Contribution to Broadcasting
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The trio reunited at the Variety Awards where Kate scooped a gong for her Contribution to BroadcastingCredit: Getty
Ben previously said the 'hardest part' of leaving GMB was leaving his work 'wife' Kate
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Ben previously said the 'hardest part' of leaving GMB was leaving his work 'wife' KateCredit: Rex
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