Cat joined This Morning alongside Ben Shephard
Just nine months after her debut, Cat Deeley’s fate on This Morning seems to be sealed. The 48-year-old presenter joined the well-loved programme in February of this year with Ben Shephard, following Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby’s exit.
The duo had been at the show’s forefront nearly every day for close to 15 years before Philip left amid revelations of an “illegal but unwise affair”. Holly then stepped away to focus on her family after a shocking alleged kidnap plot surfaced, reports the Mirror.
Their replacements came in the form of Ben and Cat and while viewers at home have warmed to the pair, official ratings suggest a viewership dip for This Morning. On the BBC, Morning Live has more than a million viewers every day, with This Morning now dipping below that number.
Cat presents the show alongside Ben Shephard (Image: ITV)
That has led some sources to suggest that the dip means Cat has accepted she will not be on This Morning for a long time. A source told The Sun: “Cat loves This Morning but has conceded she’ll be one of their shortest ever serving presenters.
“Cat was brought in alongside Ben to steady the ship and she’s done just that, ratings have been tricky but the daily drama has finally ended. Cat signed a year-long deal with Ben last year and she’s agreed to another 12 months.”
The source claimed that Cat had spoken to those close to her and expressed she was “growing tired of it” and is set to be focusing her energy on another project when her new contract ends in 2026. Although she has “zero desire” to follow Holly’s legacy and become a show legend, she is keen to remain loyal to the programme, as well as the viewers at home.
Despite the recent drop in viewing figures, ITV boasted an impressive record this Christmas. The pre-recorded episode of the programme saw more 1.1 million viewers tune in as they gathered on their sofas on Christmas day between 10am and 12pm.
ITV and Cat Deeley’s spokesperson were contacted by The Mirror for comment.
