Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on their huge new This Morning gig
It’s no secret that This Morning has had a bumpy time of late, with many presenters trying out for the main hosting jobs following the departure of Phillip Schofield last spring and Holly Willoughby in October. However, after months of searching, ITV settled on two of the steadiest hands in broadcasting – Good Morning Britain’s Ben Shephard, 49, and former SM:TV host and So You Think You Can Dance presenter Cat Deeley, 47.
While the pair have never worked together, they are eager to get started, joining the presenting line-up alongside Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond, who will continue to present on a Friday.
We caught up with Cat, who is married to presenter Patrick Kielty and has sons Milo, eight, and James, five, and Ben, who is with partner of 20 years Annie and father to two teenage sons, to find out what they have in store for us!
What are you most looking forward to about presenting This Morning?
Ben: That is quite a question, there is so much. Not having to get up so early and to be able to have a lie-in is quite high up there! But seriously, it has to be the people. From the team to the guests to, of course, Cat – it’s all about the people. I’ve worked with many of the team on and off but to work with them full time is very exciting.
Cat: As I’ve previously said, This Morning is a national institution. Whenever it’s on it’s like having your friends over. It’s funny, smart, silly, heartfelt, informative and joyful – like all the greatest friendships!
What does This Morning mean to you?
Ben: Like so many people, This Morning is the programme I grew up watching when Richard and Judy used to host it – two icons on the daytime sofa. I first got to host the show with the lovely Fern Britton. I was a last-minute call up and I remember sitting on the bus on the way home, daydreaming about the fact I’d just hosted it and what a moment that was for me. I vividly remember driving over London’s Blackfriars Bridge, being on the top of the 63 bus and looking down at the river, thinking, “Crikey I just hosted This Morning.” Now here I am 20 years later and I’m going to be doing it every day. That means a lot.
Cat: I can’t wait to be a part of the team, from the crew and producers, to the brilliant presenters. I’ve been hosting solo for the past few years and I’ve really missed that sense of camaraderie, it will be great to be a part of such an incredible team.
Have you ever worked together before?
Ben: We’ve never been lucky enough to work together. I’m a huge fan of Cat’s – I have been for many, years. She’s clearly a brilliant broadcaster. I loved wa
