Headache for This Morning bosses as Cat Deeley turns down probability position

ITV bosses have been compelled to delay the relaunch of This Morning after Cat Deeley turned down the job to interchange Holly Willoughby.

Executives on the daytime chat present had been stated to be ‘gutted’ after Ms Deeley determined to return to America to host So You Think You Can Dance as an alternative.

They had pinned their hopes on signing up the 47-year-old after being impressed by her efficiency as visitor presenter final month.

She was an enormous hit with viewers who hailed her as ‘sensible’, ‘wonderful’ and ‘a breath of recent air’.

The US expertise present, which Ms Deeley has hosted since 2005, had been placed on maintain in the course of the Covid pandemic however was unexpectedly revived earlier this month.

Ms Deeley’s determination to return to the collection signifies that the mother-of-two solely has a couple of weeks free in February and March earlier than she should head to the US to movie its reside episodes which is able to run till June.

She is married to Patrick Kielty, the comic, who hosts The Late Late Show on RTÉ One.

A supply stated: ‘There are lots of people [at ITV] pulling their hair out proper now.

‘The relaunch date was presupposed to be in January however that’s no method going to occur now.

‘Cat was the reply. She would have been an absolute triumph however they only could not make it work. Now it’s a case of again to the drafting board to determine a brand new plan of motion.’

ITV bosses have been searching for a everlasting duo to host This Morning from Monday to Thursday following the departures of Ms Willoughby and Phillip Schofield reasonably than proceed with rotating presenters.

Ms Willoughby left in October after 14 years after an alleged kidnap plot in opposition to her emerged. Schofield give up in May following a scandal over an affair with a younger male colleague.

Bosses had additionally approached Emma Willis, who presents ITV’s The Voice, however the mother-of-three couldn’t decide to 4 days every week.

Christine Lampard, who’s married to former England footballer Frank Lampard and has two youngsters, is claimed to be ‘adored’ by ITV executives however has equally refused to work full time.

Irishman Craig Doyle, 52, is claimed to be the favoured male presenter.

Ben Shephard, who had been lined as much as be a part of Ms Willoughby earlier than she left, is known to be remaining at Good Morning Britain in the meanwhile. 

Regular star Josie Gibson will entrance plenty of exhibits from subsequent week and all through January whereas Alison Hammond seems in pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk on the Birmingham Hippodrome.

However, regardless of her success on this 12 months’s I’m A Celebrity, Ms Gibson, 38, will not be thought-about a contender for the primary anchor job in the intervening time. 

Since she jetted out to the jungle, plenty of different stars have hosted, together with pop singer Mollie King, Rylan Clark and Andi Peters.

Sources at ITV say there are different ‘potentials within the combine’, including: ‘Bosses are completely satisfied to attend to get it proper.

‘They aren’t dashing something and are dedicated to ready till they get the correct pairing. It’s at all times been the purpose to have a everlasting duo alongside Alison and Dermot [O’Leary].

‘But the shock silver lining to such a tricky 12 months for everybody on the present has been the success of the combo of presenters – among the nation’s favorite faces rotating.’

Ratings since Ms Willoughby left have been rising, ITV insiders say. November and December have seen the very best rankings of 2023, with peak audiences exceeding a million.