Cat Deeley was pressured to apologise to viewers after making a hilarious blunder throughout her This Morning debut on Monday.
The presenter, 47, made her first look because the everlasting host of the ITV present alongside Ben Shephard, after changing Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
But whereas they obtained a heat reception from viewers, Cat did make an amusing mishap whereas studying out the quantity for a phone-in, lacking out a zero.
Ben corrected her, noting that the quantity began with 08000 reasonably than 0800, and Cat mentioned that she beforehand had the quantity for ChildLine in her head.
‘That’s the place I’m getting it from,’ she mentioned.
As they kicked off their first episode of This Morning collectively, Cat and Ben gushed they had been ‘so excited’ to make their debut.
The pair had been unveiled as the brand new additions to the present final month following weeks of hypothesis, and Holly’s departure from the present again in October.
Speaking in the course of the present’s opening moments, Cat mentioned: ‘We are so excited to be right here this present has been part of our lives for therefore lengthy.’
Ben, who left Good Morning Britain final month after 10 years, added: ‘Everyone has been so type. thanks to everybody who has despatched us messages of assist.’
Cat and Ben additionally obtained messages of assist from a few of their superstar buddies, with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly sharing a candy tribute to their former SMTV co-host.
Ant mentioned: ‘Cat, Ben, good luck!’ whereas Dec continued: ‘Have the most effective time! You’re going to be superb, we won’t wait to observe.’
Noting their wild partying throughout their kids’s TV heyday, Ant mentioned: ‘A little bit bit of recommendation for Ben about Cat as a result of we labored with Cat and she or he is likely to be all sweetness and lightweight however that woman can occasion! Don’t suppose she will be able to’t.’
Declan added: ‘Keep a lock on the drinks cupboard.’
Back within the studio, Cat admitted with a smile on her face: ‘Look, my motto in life is figure exhausting, play exhausting.’
Cat went on to disclose: ‘Well truly Ben, I’ve truly had a bit phrase of warning about you too – from certainly one of your besties, take a look!’ Before the clip performed, Ben joked: ‘That’s much more worrying if it is from certainly one of my mates!’
Viewers then heard Chris Kamara, affectionately often known as Kammy to many, say: ‘Let me inform you Cat, he is sort of a bear with a sore head when West Ham get beat and the remainder of the time, he’s simply depressing!
‘Only kidding, let me inform you Cat – he was the most effective issues to occur to me and I’m certain you will notice that and vice versa after all. Good luck to you each, I feel you are going to smash it.’
Ben commented: ‘Aww Kammy! He by no means fails to maneuver me, that man. We awakened collectively loads on Sundays on Sky… That’s one thing you need to be taught! But thanks Kammy for that message.’
He added: ‘And truthfully, I’m certain you have had it as properly, however the quantity of messages we have had from folks eager to ship us all the most effective and need us better of luck with the brand new present.’
Cat agreed: ‘Absolutely, even folks you have not heard of for some time have reached out, it is very nice.’
Ahead of their first present, Ben’s former GMB colleague Susanna Reid shared a selfie alongside the pair after they crossed paths backstage.
Tweeting the snap, she penned the caption: ‘Fantastic to see @benshephard & @catdeeley behind the scenes this morning earlier than their This Morning debut. Good luck dream group.’
ITV have been hoping the duo will present stability for viewers after months of uncertainty and a revolving door of presenters within the wake of Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield scandalous departures.
Yet not everybody was impressed by the scenes on Monday, with underwhelmed viewers complaining the brand new hosts weren’t sufficient to avoid wasting the ‘dated’ present.
While many reacted favourably to Cat and Ben themselves, they had been unimpressed that the present had remained largely unchanged.
Taking to X, previously Twitter, one upset viewer summed up: ‘Big new period for #ThisMorning begins at present… AAAAAND…they’ve not modified something on the set, the objects are all the identical and it looks like Ben & Cat are simply the latest on the conveyer belt of presenters reasonably than it feeling like a recent begin, which it arguably ought to.’
Others agreed: ‘#ThisMorning ..similar old set, theme tune, graphics and segments. Even similar opening titles – could not even be bothered so as to add Ben and Cat in just like the old earlier hosts. This was ITVs probability to rejuvenate this system and transfer on from the previous – and so they missed it.’;
‘9.58am: Pop on ITV1 to observe new #ThisMorning hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley’s begin to the present. 10.03am: Now I’ve watched it I’ve turned it off and again on with watching Young Royals on Netflix. Love Cat & Ben, however I feel This Morning simply feels dated to me tbh!’;
‘#ThisMorning – Ben & Cat might be nice however the disappointment that there is no set is powerful – all the time my fave bits of a relaunch, new studio units.’
Discussing the brand new hosts themselves, others added: ‘Might’ve had the improper first impression about Ben and Cat. Give me one other 2 hours however they appear to be doing fairly properly #ThisMorning’;
‘I actually like Cat and Ben and I’m certain they will be nice as the brand new everlasting presenters. Just relieved to lastly have an finish to all of the chopping and altering, fingers crossed there’s some stability ultimately. Now simply get them on the opening titles! #ThisMorning’;
‘Nice to see Ben Shepherd and Cat Deely presenting #ThisMorning’; ‘I really like Ben & i really like Cat …issues are trying up.#ThisMorning’; ‘Jury’s out about Cat, however suppose Ben provides a stage of professionalism that this present has lengthy lacked #thismorning’.
Cat was seen in New York City final week, simply two days earlier than she kicked off her This Morning stint.
Her new function will imply she may reportedly lose her long-time function on So You Think You Can Dance within the US, the place she was paid £43k an episode – as an alternative choosing the function on This Morning with a reported £550k annual wage.
It had been claimed that Cat was lastly gained spherical with a profitable deal, however insiders at ITV denied the claims – insisting it was the flexibility to spend extra time with household, over a giant money payday, that lastly sealed the deal.
Cat’s husband Patrick Kielty, with whom she shares two kids, is the host of Ireland’s The Late Late Show and her function on This Morning would convey her nearer geographically to her husband reasonably than her US job.
When reviews of her becoming a member of the present first emerged final 12 months it was claimed she and Ben would obtain an annual wage of £555,000.
While hefty, the wage nonetheless paled compared to former hosts Holly and Phil, who had been mentioned to have been paid £700,000 yearly for his or her function.
Ben had his remaining GMB present on February 23, leaving his ‘on-screen spouse’ Kate Garraway after practically 20 years.
He mentioned on the time: ‘One of the toughest choices after all is understanding that my mornings with Kate, my on-screen spouse of practically 20 years, is coming to an finish.’
The information was confirmed through a bespoke promo on This Morning’s Twitter final month, exhibiting Ben walking down the acquainted This Morning manufacturing hall and putting a brand new photograph of Cat on the wall, earlier than turning to the digicam because the photograph involves life.
Cat mentioned: ‘This Morning is a nationwide establishment. Whenever it is on, it is like having your mates over – humorous, good, foolish, heartfelt, informative and joyful – like all the best friendships!…
‘This Morning is and all the time would be the viewer’s present. Ben and I each know the way a lot folks like it, and with the assistance of an incredible group of individuals, we will do our greatest to handle it.’
Ben added: ‘This actually looks like a really particular second for Cat and I to be a part of the subsequent chapter of This Morning. It’s an honour to be trusted with the reigns, be a part of Alison and Dermot and all of the group that work on and off display and do such an ideal job…
‘For the final ten years I’ve been waking up with our ITV daytime viewers on GMB and I now stay up for spending time with Cat…
‘Welcoming the viewers home after the college run or from their early morning routines, with a cup of tea and a mixture of all the pieces that makes This Morning so cherished.’
This Morning’s Editor, Martin Frizell mentioned: ‘The group and I’ve relished the chance to attempt new issues these previous few months and remind viewers what a massively proficient group each on and off display we have now right here at This Morning…
‘We cannot wait to welcome Ben and Cat totally into the fold subsequent month and witness the beginning of one other thrilling chapter within the present’s 35 12 months journey.’
It comes after Holly left the present final October ‘for the sake of her household’ after discovering she was the goal of a foiled kidnap and homicide plot and has since not been changed completely.
It got here 5 months after Phillip’s departure after his affair with a young male showrunner was made public, adopted by claims of an more and more strained relationship along with his co-host.
Phillip has bowed out of the highlight in recent months since his affair scandal in May, which led to his departure from This Morning after over 20 years on the present.
After a lot hypothesis about his personal life, his affair lastly went public and he admitted he had been left ‘damaged and ashamed’ however insisted he was not a groomer.
He mentioned the affair ‘by no means got here throughout’ as an abuse of energy as a result of he and his lover had been ‘mates’. He informed The Sun: ‘I used to be unprofessional, one time, in a 41-year profession. There is not any excuse. No one did something improper aside from me.’
In his first interview since leaving the broadcaster and This Morning, the 61-year-old presenter mentioned: ‘I didn’t, I didn’t [groom him].
‘There are accusations of all types of issues. It by no means got here throughout that manner as a result of we would turn into mates. I do not find out about that. But after all I perceive that there might be a large judgment, however taking into account, I’ve by no means exercised that.’
At the time, Phillip supplied quite a few apologies, together with to his co-presenter of 14 years Holly and his spouse of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe.
It comes after Holly left the present final October ‘for the sake of her household’ after discovering she was the goal of a foiled kidnap and homicide plot and has since not been changed completely.
