Cat Deeley is becoming a member of This Morning with Ben Shephard, however it’s been claimed he wasn’t the rapid first choose.
On Friday it was confirmed that from subsequent month, the duo will take the lead on the ITV daytime present as the brand new official presenters Monday to Thursday, with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary persevering with with their Friday duties.
However, it’s now been claimed that Ben could not have been bosses first alternative, with reviews suggesting ITV bigwigs had been eager to get Cat to signal on along with her husband and presenter Patrick Kielty.
The concept was to have the couple, who’ve two kids collectively, unite on display screen in a Richard and Judy fashion partnership, however the Mail reviews that there was one large hindrances.
Patrick is completely happy in his function because the host of Ireland’s The Late Late Show, making the concept of snatching him for This Morning an ‘impossible’ prospect.
‘Once Patrick was out of the game ITV wanted Ben and Cat, or Cat and Ben,’ a supply informed the newspaper. ‘They couldn’t work out which approach spherical to have the names, they had been nicknamed BenCat months in the past. That is what they had been working in direction of.’
The official announcement was made with a brief promo video posted on This Morning’s social media accounts as Ben walked down the manufacturing hall and placed a brand new photograph of Cat on the wall.
He then turned to the digital camera because the photograph got here to life with Cat giving viewers one among her signature winks.
Ben, 49, is stepping down from his position as an anchor on ITV present Good Morning Britain and has known as his new job at This Morning ‘an honour’.
‘This really feels like a very special moment for Cat and I to be part of the next 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 workforce that work on and off display screen and do such an ideal job,’ he mentioned.
‘For the last ten years, I’ve been waking up with our ITV daytime viewers on GMB and I now look ahead to spending time with Cat, welcoming the viewers home after the varsity run or from their early morning routines, with a cup of tea and a mixture of every little thing that makes This Morning so beloved.’
Meanwhile Cat, 47, described the present as ‘a national institution’ as opened up on the enormity of the function.
‘This Morning is a national institution. Whenever it’s on, it’s like having your pals over – humorous, sensible, foolish, heartfelt, informative and joyful – like all the best friendships,’ she added in her personal assertion.
‘This Morning is and always will be the viewer’s present. Ben and I each know the way a lot folks find it irresistible, and with the assistance of a tremendous workforce of individuals, we’re going to do our greatest to handle it.’
Cat and Ben are changing Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield who left the present in 2023, and This Morning Editor, Martin Frizell, is trying ahead to the brand new chapter on the programme.
‘The team and I have relished the opportunity to try new things these past few months and remind viewers what a massively talented team both on and off screen we have here at This Morning,’ he mentioned.
‘We can’t wait to welcome Ben and Cat absolutely into the fold subsequent month and witness the beginning of one other thrilling chapter within the present’s 35-year journey.’
Schofield, 61, offered his final present in May after greater than 20 years on the helm. Every week after his departure he revealed he was leaving the broadcaster altogether after admitting to mendacity about an affair with a young colleague.
In October, Holly, 43, additionally left the sequence. Following an alleged plot to kidnap and homicide, she launched an announcement that mentioned it was a ‘difficult goodbye’ however she needed to ‘make this decision for me and family’.
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Cat Deeley, Patrick Kielty and ITV for remark.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV1.
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