Cat Deeley Returns to ‘This Morning’ Amid Personal Changes
Cat Deeley made her much-anticipated return to ITV’s This Morning today, rejoining co-host Ben Shephard after an extended break. The duo resumed their hosting duties following a summer hiatus, during which Alison Hammond and Rylan Clark filled in.
As the new school term commenced, Deeley shared a personal milestone: “My littlest is starting his new school today, so he’s got to wear a blazer and he’s popped the collar!”
Deeley, 48, is a mother to two sons, Milo (9) and James (7), with her former husband, Patrick Kielty. The couple announced their separation in July after 12 years of marriage.
They stated: “We have taken the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. There is no other party involved. We will continue to be united as loving parents to our children and would therefore kindly ask for our family privacy to be respected. There will be no further comment.”
Deeley returned to the show without her wedding ring, marking a subtle yet poignant symbol of the recent changes in her personal life.
During the episode, she and Shephard discussed their summer activities, with Deeley mentioning: “Lots of beach activity, family, friends, kids, ice creams as big as your head! It’s been really fab.”
Despite the upbeat conversation, sources close to Deeley revealed that she was feeling “anxious” about her return to the public eye.
A source said: “Cat feels anxious ahead of her first day back after announcing the bombshell news of her split during her break. She has decided NOT to mention the breakdown of her marriage on screen and instead wants to keep the chatty dialogue between her and Ben upbeat and positive for viewers.”
The insider also noted that Deeley was “hurt” by criticism from Kielty’s family and inner circle, especially regarding her absence at her mother-in-law’s funeral in March.
The source added: “Even people from within Patrick’s family and inner circle who don’t know her well have criticised her for that and made out that it was the reason for the split when that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Cat is generally a really positive person but it hurts her to have people piling the blame onto her when this is a painful situation for them both.”
Deeley and Shephard took over as permanent hosts of This Morning in March 2024, following the departures of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
Deeley expressed her excitement about joining the show, stating, “This Morning is a national institution. Whenever it’s on, it’s like having your friends over – funny, smart, silly, heartfelt, informative, and joyful, like all the greatest friendships.
This Morning is and always will be the viewer’s show. Ben and I both know how much people love it, and with the help of an amazing team of people, we’re going to do our best to take care of it.”
As Deeley navigates this new chapter, her return to This Morning signifies a step towards embracing both her professional commitments and personal growth.
