This Morning viewers were left a tad confused when instead of Cat Deeley joining Ben Shephard for her usual presenting spot, he was joined by Bake Off host Alison Hammond
15:27, 09 Dec 2025
Fans couldn’t work out what had happened to usual presenter Cat(Image: ITV)
Fans were left scratching their heads when Tuesday morning’s edition of This Morning involved a bit of a shake-up, with Cat Deeley missing – and replaced at the last minute. The 49-year-old normally presents from Monday to Thursday alongside her co-host, former GMB presenter Ben Shephard, 50.
However, viewers were instead greeted by Ben – alongside fellow This Morning star Alison Hammond, 50 – a combination that fans soon learned had never happened before. And though the pair did nod to the clear change in presenting line-up, neither of them explained what had actually happened to Cat.
Ben didn’t explain Cat’s absence on Tuesday morning’s show (Image: ITV)
Ben simply said: “How about this, Alison Hammond”, to which the Birmingham-born telly favourite replied: “What am I doing here, what is going on?” He replied: ” Christmas wishes do come true, that’s all I’ll say. Our first time together – you never forget your first time, Alison.” Alison added: “It was bound to happen, it was always going to happen.”
Cat’s unexplained no-show comes months after her shock split from RTE Late Late Show presenter, Northern Irish star Patrick Kielty, after 13 years of marriage. The former couple, who tied the knot in September 2012 in Rome and share sons Milo, nine, and James, seven, together – released a statement in June announcing that they were parting ways.
It read, “We have taken the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. There is no other party involved,” the pair said in a joint statement. We will continue to be united as loving parents to our children and would therefore kindly ask for our family privacy to be respected. There will be no further comment.”
Cat and Patrick announced their split in the summer(Image: PA)
It was revealed at the time that Cat was “feeling anxious” before returning to the famous This Morning sofa, after the news of her marriage breakdown. A source claimed to the Sun, “She has decided not to mention the breakdown of her marriage on screen and instead wants to keep the chatty dialogue between her and Ben upbeat and positive for viewers.”
Three months before they declared their marriage was over, Cat was not in attendance at 54-year-old Paddy’s mother’s funeral – a move that raised eyebrows in some quarters.
Cat, whose career started in the late 90s, alongside that of Geordie favourites Ant and Dec, on SM:TV Live, has been a familiar face on This Morning since her debut alongside Ben in March 2022.
READ MORE: Shoppers snap up M&S’ £20 letterbox afternoon tea for under £5 in limited time deal
