Cat Deeley has only just started on ITV’s This Morning… but now the BBC wants to poach her for a Saturday night prime-time entertainment show
It took months of twists and turns for ITV to sign her to her job as a big-money presenter in the US.
And now, just weeks after Cat Deeley made her This Morning debut, BBC bosses are keen to lure her to the network to host an entertainment show.
Sources at the Beeb have revealed that following an ongoing row between the BBC and ITV over the poaching of each other’s talent, some Corporation bosses reportedly ‘see huge value’ in hiring her.
One told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Cat has the queen of Saturday night television feeling about her, and women are lacking in that area.
‘She is used to hosting a glitzy show in America and with the right program here she could be an absolute ratings winner.
Cat Deeley with her This Morning co-host Ben Shephard. Just weeks after Cat Deeley made her This Morning debut, BBC bosses are keen to lure her to the network to host an entertainment show
Cat Deeley when she was the presenter of the American show So You Think You Can Dance. She is unlikely to return for the next series of US reality TV show So You Think You Can Dance as her This Morning commitments do not allow her the time to film it.
Cat Deeley on this morning. ITV managed to convince Ms Deeley, 47, to host their daytime program after months of negotiations
‘There’s no love lost between the BBC and ITV over star stealing, so what a great move this would be.’
ITV recently poached BBC stars Graham Norton, Gary Lineker and Zoe Ball to host their shows, while Alison Hammond and Paddy McGuinness were both lured from ITV to their rival.
Due to the lack of ‘golden handcuff’ deals in recent years, stars are free to work through whatever channels they wish. When Holly Willoughby – Ms Deeley’s predecessor – presented This Morning, she also presented the BBC show The Voice between 2012 and 2014 and in 2022 she presented Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof.
ITV managed to convince Ms Deeley, 47, to host their daytime program after months of negotiations.
She is unlikely to return for the next series of US reality TV show So You Think You Can Dance as her This Morning commitments do not allow her the time to film it.