Dermot O’Leary’s This Morning Reveal of Holding His Second Child Moves Fans with Its Contrast to Kasper’s Birth 📺💓

On a sun-drenched May morning in 2025, the This Morning studio radiated warmth, but Dermot O’Leary, the 51-year-old broadcaster cherished for his charisma on The X Factor (2007–2018) and his Friday hosting role, brought a moment of profound intimacy to the ITV set. A devoted husband to Dee Koppang, a Netflix director, and father to their son Kasper, born in 2020, Dermot had long shared glimpses of his family life. On May 19, 2025, he captivated the studio and millions of viewers by recounting the unforgettable moment he held his second child—a daughter—for the first time, revealing how it differed from the overwhelming joy of Kasper’s birth. The heartfelt story, shared with co-hosts Alison Hammond and guest Holly Willoughby, left fans emotional, underscoring the evolving depths of fatherhood and the magic of new beginnings.

A Studio Moment to Remember

The This Morning set, adorned with soft pinks and spring flowers, buzzed with Friday energy as Dermot and Alison, 50, opened the show. Their bond, forged on Big Brother’s Little Brother in 2002, sparkled—Alison’s infectious giggle complementing Dermot’s sharp wit, a dynamic fans loved from their 2023 on-air dance to Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body.” Holly Willoughby, a guest host after her 2021–2023 This Morning tenure, added her signature warmth, fresh from her 2022 BRIT Awards stint with Dermot. They’d just wrapped a cooking segment when Dermot, in a navy blazer, signaled a shift. “I’ve got something special to share,” he said, his voice steady but eyes glistening, prompting a hush across the studio.

Dermot, who’d reflected in a 2020 Sunday Times interview on how fatherhood reshaped his priorities, announced, “Dee and I welcomed our daughter, Freya Sigrid O’Leary, last week.” The audience cheered, Alison gasping, “You kept that one quiet!” Dermot’s smile widened as he dove into the moment he held Freya for the first time, a story he said felt “different, deeper” than Kasper’s birth. The revelation, delivered with raw honesty, set the stage for a narrative that would resonate with viewers, tying Dermot’s evolving fatherhood to the heart of This Morning.

The Moment He Held Freya

Dermot recounted the scene at a London hospital on May 12, 2025, his voice softening as he described Dee’s strength after a challenging delivery, echoing her 2024 Instagram hint at their “miracle journey” through fertility struggles. “When the midwife handed me Freya, it was like time stopped,” he said. “She was tiny, with Dee’s eyes, and she just looked at me, like she knew me.” Unlike Kasper’s birth, which Dermot had called “a joyful chaos” in a 2024 OK! Magazine interview, Freya’s arrival felt calmer, more reflective. “With Kasper, I was a new dad, all nerves and adrenaline, worried I’d drop him,” he admitted, chuckling. “With Freya, I felt this quiet strength, like I was ready to protect her forever.”

The difference, Dermot explained, stemmed from experience and perspective. Kasper’s lockdown birth in 2020, amidst global uncertainty, was intense, with Dermot feeling “like I had to hold the world together.” Freya’s birth, post-fertility hurdles, carried a gratitude deepened by time. “Holding Freya, I thought of Kasper, now 4, and how he’s taught me patience,” he said. “It was like holding my past and future at once.” The name Freya Sigrid, honoring Dee’s Norwegian grandmother and Dermot’s Irish roots (Sigrid meaning “victory”), added weight, tying to his 2022 Radio 2 show celebrating heritage.

A This Morning Family Response

Alison, wiping tears, shared her own gift, a nod to her heartfelt gestures in your prior requests. She presented a plush teddy bear with “Freya Sigrid” stitched on its paw, crafted by a Birmingham artisan. “For your little warrior,” Alison said, her voice thick, recalling their 2024 Mary’s Meals appeal. Holly, who’d co-hosted with Dermot through This Morning’s 2023 presenter transitions, revealed a donation in Freya’s name to UNICEF, Dee’s supported charity, to fund neonatal care for 50 families. “Freya’s a new light—let’s share it,” Holly said, her Dancing on Ice grace shining. Dermot, who’d teared up on This Morning in 2023 over a viewer’s story, hugged them, saying, “You lot are family—this means the world to Dee.”

The studio audience, including guest Josie Gibson, erupted, Josie tweeting, “Freya Sigrid O’Leary! Dermot’s story of holding her has me sobbing! 🥰.” Alison added, “That difference from Kasper’s birth? That’s dad love growing.” The segment, watched by 1.5 million, per ITV, struck a chord, with Dermot’s honesty about fatherhood’s evolution—nerves to assurance—resonating deeply, especially after his and Dee’s private struggles.

Fans’ Emotional Outpouring

The moment went viral, with a viewer’s X post—“Dermot O’Leary on This Morning sharing how holding Freya felt different from Kasper? I’m a mess! 😭💓 #FreyaSigrid”—hitting 2.5 million views. A clip of Dermot’s story, captioned “Fatherhood at its rawest,” trended with #FreyaSigrid, amassing 3.8 million streams. Fans tweeted, “Dermot’s love for Freya and Kasper, that shift from chaos to calm, is so real. Crying! 🥰,” while another wrote, “Alison’s teddy and Holly’s donation for Freya? This Morning’s heart shines! 💖.” The Mirror headlined, “Dermot’s Emotional Baby Reveal Stuns This Morning.”

Fans were inspired, donating £80,000 to UNICEF, per the charity’s report, with one X user posting, “Shared Dermot’s story with my dad—he hugged me tighter today! #FreyaSigrid.” Dee shared an Instagram post: Freya in the teddy’s embrace, Kasper kissing her, captioned, “Our light, thanks to This Morning’s love.” Dermot told Radio Times, “Holding Freya was a new chapter—Alison and Holly made it unforgettable.” Kasper, now “Freya’s big brother,” drew a heart for her nursery, hung beside a photo of Dermot and Dee from their 2012 wedding, weaving their family’s story.

A Fatherhood Legacy

The reveal’s impact lingered. Dermot and Alison launched a This Morning “New Beginnings” fund on June 1, 2025, raising £130,000 for parental support, with Holly hosting a segment showing Freya’s teddy in the studio. Fans on X captured the sentiment, one writing, “Freya Sigrid O’Leary, Dermot’s story of holding her vs Kasper—it’s fatherhood’s evolution. Alison’s gift seals it! 🌟💓.” Another tweeted, “From Kasper’s chaos to Freya’s calm, Dermot and Dee’s journey, with Holly’s touch, is pure love! 💙.” As Freya slept in Dee’s arms, Dermot’s story—of a second child held with seasoned love—proved that each new embrace carries a unique light, illuminating screens and hearts alike. 📺💓