Cat Deeley was given the job of replacing Holly Willoughby as the host of This Morning, but the ITV show’s bosses were initially worried that she was “too perfect” for the role

ITV producers were on the hunt for a seasoned presenter to take over from Holly Willoughby on ‘This Morning’ after a period of upheaval which saw both Holly and her co-host Phillip Schofield exit in quick succession.

An ITV insider revealed to the Mail On Sunday that the eventual choice, Cat Deeley, was initially thought to be “too perfect.”

The West Bromwich-born presenter had been making waves across the pond, fronting the hit US show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, leading to concerns from ‘This Morning’ chiefs that she might come across as too glossy and out of touch with UK audiences.

Cat has an easy relationship with co-host Ben Shephard(Image: Joe Maher, Getty Images for the NTA’s)

“But Cat was aware of her audience,” revealed a show insider. “she’s a clever woman, and she didn’t want anyone to think she is a diva.”

She banished producers’ fears by reverting to her native Brummie accent and opting for a more relatable wardrobe, featuring high-street brands like Mango, M&S, and Zara instead of high-end fashion.

Sources close to the show have been charmed by Cat’s grounded nature: “‘Cat might have lived in Hollywood for a long time, and worked with some massive stars, but you’d never think it when she walks into the studio,” one insider revealed. “She’s a breath of fresh air. She’s funny, she’s kind and she doesn’t take herself too seriously.”

Cat had enjoyed a successful career in the US(Image: Kate Green, Getty Images)

The chemistry between new ‘This Morning’ co-hosts is providing some comfort to producers after a shake-up following Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby’s reportedly strained relationship. After allegations that Schofield deceived everyone about a past entanglement with a much younger colleague at ITV, the situation took a toll on his career.

Not only did Schofield lose his ambassador role for the Prince’s Trust, but he was also dropped by YMU, his agency of over three decades, and eventually parted ways with ITV amid voices suggesting ‘This Morning’ should be axed.

At that difficult time, Schofield had announced his intention to leave television; however, he surprised fans a year later by revealing his participation in a Channel 5 reality series, ‘Cast Away’.

The previous This Morning team left the show for very different reasons(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

On Instagram, he shared: “Now you know how I spent my summer! Alone for 10 days, no food, no water, no crew. My story of survival, both on a desert island and off it.”

Since the series aired, Schofield has kept out of the spotlight, while his erstwhile colleague Holly remained visible, featuring in programmes like ‘Celebrity Bear Hunt’ and ‘Dancing On Ice’.

‘This Morning’ has since seen a resurgence in viewer numbers, especially with Cat Deeley stepping in, who’s bringing authenticity with her original Brummie accent. Insiders suggest the show is now comfortably “reporting the news, rather than making it”.