Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard make their debut as This Morning hosts: Pair receive messages of support from celebrity pals after replacing Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield
Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard said they were ‘so excited’ to finally make their debut as permanent new presenters of This Morning, after replacing Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
The pair were revealed as the new additions to the show last month after weeks of speculation and Holly’s departure from the show in October.
During the opening moments of the show on Monday, Cat said: “We’re so excited to be here, this show has been a part of our lives for so long.”
Ben, who left Good Morning Britain last month after ten years, added: “Everyone has been so nice. thanks to everyone who sent us messages of support.’
Cat and Ben also received messages of support from some of their famous friends, with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly sharing a sweet tribute to their former SMTV co-host.
Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard said they were ‘so excited’ as they finally made their debut as permanent new presenters of This Morning on Monday
The pair were revealed last month as the new additions to the show following the departure of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby last year
Noting their wild parties during the heyday of their children’s telly, Ant said: ‘That girl can party, don’t think she can’t,’ while Declan added: ‘Keep a lock on the drinks cupboard.’
Ben also received a sweet message from his longtime friend Chris Kamara, who said, “He was one of the best things that happened to me and vice versa, I’m sure you’re going to crush it.”
Ahead of their first show, Ben’s former GMB colleague Susanna Reid shared a selfie alongside the pair after they crossed paths backstage.
She tweeted the photo and wrote the caption: ‘Great to see @benshephard and @catdeley backstage this morning for their This Morning debut. Good luck dream team.”
Cat was spotted in New York City last week, just two days before she started her This Morning stint.
Her new role means she could reportedly lose her old role in So You Think You Can Dance in the US where she was paid £43,000 per episode – instead opting for the role in This Morning with a reported annual salary of £550,000.
It was claimed that Cat had finally been won over with a lucrative deal, but insiders at ITV denied these claims, insisting that it was the opportunity to spend more time with family, on a big-money payday, that ultimately sealed the deal.
Cat’s husband Patrick Kielty, with whom she shares two children, is the host of Ireland’s The Late Late Show and her role on This Morning would put her geographically closer to her husband than her US job.
When reports first emerged of her joining the show last year, it was claimed that she and Ben would receive an annual salary of £555,000.
Although hefty, the salary still paled in comparison to former presenters Holly and Phil, who were reportedly paid £700,000 a year for their roles.
Ben had his final GMB show on February 23, leaving behind his ‘on-screen wife’ Kate Garraway of almost two decades.
Cat and Ben also received messages of support from some of their famous friends, with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly sharing a sweet tribute to their former SMTV co-host
Ben also received a sweet message from his long-time friend Chris Kamara, who said: ‘He was one of the best things that happened to me and vice versa, I’m sure you’re going to crush it’
It came five months after Phillip’s departure after his affair with a young male showrunner was made public, followed by Holly’s departure from the show in October.
Ben, who left Good Morning Britain last month after ten years, added: “Everyone has been so lovely. thank you to everyone who sent us messages of support’
He said at the time: “Of course, one of the hardest decisions is knowing that my mornings with Kate, my on-screen wife of almost 20 years, are coming to an end.”
The news was confirmed last month via a bespoke promo on This Morning’s Twitter, which saw Ben walking down the famous This Morning production corridor and posting a new photo of Cat on the wall, before turning to the camera as the photo came to life came.
Cat said: “This Morning is a national institution. Whenever it’s on, it’s like having your friends over – funny, smart, silly, sincere, informative and cheerful – like all best friendships!…
‘This morning is and remains the viewer’s show. Ben and I both know how much people love it, and with the help of a great team of people, we’re going to do our best to make it happen.”
Ben added: “This really feels like a very special moment for Cat and I to be part of the next chapter of This Morning. It is an honor to be entrusted with the leadership. Join Alison and Dermot and the whole team who work both on and off screen doing such amazing work…
‘Over the past ten years I’ve been waking up to our ITV daytime audience on GMB and I’m now looking forward to spending time with Cat…
‘Welcoming viewers home after the school run or their early morning routine, with a cup of tea and a mix of everything that makes This Morning so loved.’
This Morning’s editor Martin Frizell said: ‘The team and I have enjoyed the opportunity to try new things over the past few months and remind viewers what a hugely talented team we have here at This Morning, both on as off screen…
“We can’t wait to fully welcome Ben and Cat to the group next month and witness the start of a new exciting chapter in the show’s 35-year journey.”
It comes after Holly left the show last October ‘for the sake of her family’ after discovering she was the target of a foiled kidnap and murder plot and has not been permanently replaced since.
It came five months after Phillip’s departure after his affair with a young male showrunner was made public, followed by claims of an increasingly strained relationship with his co-host.
Phillip has been out of the spotlight in recent months since his affair scandal in May, which led to his departure from This Morning after more than two decades on the show.
After much speculation about his private life, his affair finally became public and he admitted he was left ‘broken and ashamed’ but insisted he was not a groomer.
He said the affair “never came across” as an abuse of power because he and his lover were “buddies.” He told The Sun: “I was unprofessional once in a 41-year career. There is no excuse. No one has done anything wrong except me.”
In his first interview since leaving the broadcaster and This Morning, the 61-year-old presenter said: ‘I didn’t do that, I didn’t look after him.’
‘There are accusations of all kinds of things. It never came across that way because we became friends. I do not know. But of course I understand that there will be a mass judgment, but keeping that in mind, I have never done that before.’
At the time, Phillip issued a number of apologies, including to his co-host of 14 years Holly and his wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe.
It comes after Holly left the show last October ‘for the sake of her family’ after discovering she was the target of a foiled kidnap and murder plot and has not been permanently replaced since.