Ben Shephard said he once penned an emotional letter to his father following years of conflict between them. The 51-year-old described his relationship with his dad, who also coached him at rugby, as "dysfunctional" throughout his teenage years, though they have since become far closer.

With hindsight, Ben acknowledged that growing older and gaining life experience enabled him to understand that his father's firm approach stemmed from genuine care.

Considering what advice he would give his younger self, the This Morning host remarked: "Listen to what your dad's saying, because he knows what he's talking about.

"When I was travelling, I wrote him a letter saying sorry for my lack of understanding and respect. It's not that I didn't respect how hard he worked or the opportunities he gave us, but our relationship was so dysfunctional."

Speaking to The Big Issue, Ben, who was revealed as Conkers on ITV's The Masked Singer last weekend, confessed he and his father "clashed an awful lot" during his younger years and only bonded with him over sport.

Reflecting on the letter he wrote him, he shared: "It was my way of saying, 'Sorry, you were right - I can see what you were trying to do'."

He characterised this period as a pivotal moment, composed while he was travelling alone across the globe.

"It was this moment of adventure, being on my own but also realising what you need in order to be independent," he added.

"I finally understood what my dad had been trying to give me for years - the discipline and organisation I didn't have."

Ben has since discovered that his father kept the letter tucked away in his briefcase throughout his working years, revealing: "I think he's probably still got it."

The ITV presenter was raised in Epping, Essex, alongside his siblings, Toby and Alex.

During the same conversation, he looked back on the "incredible sacrifices" his parents made to ensure a comfortable upbringing for their children, which included funding their private education.

Drawing inspiration from their dedication, Ben expressed his desire to remain professionally active for as long as he's physically able.

His packed diary includes his hosting duties on This Morning and Tipping Point and ITV's new programme The Summit.

While he admits to occasionally feeling "overwhelmed" by the demanding workload, he maintains he wouldn't change a thing.

"Part of me, and maybe this comes from my dad, thinks, if I stop, what happens? I thrive on being busy," he continued.

Beyond his television career, Ben has been married to his wife Annie since 2004, and together they have two sons, Sam, 21, and Jack, 19.

Discussing their marriage recently, he revealed that they "lead quite separate lives," yet stressed that Annie remains "the most important factor in our lives as a family".

He added to the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine: "I'm off working, she has her job in garden and interior design. If I've got spare time, I want to do something physical."