Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard have been confirmed by ITV as the new presenting duo for This Morning.
The pair take over from the previous permanent hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, who both left ITV’s flagship morning show last year.
Shephard and Deeley have both previously presented the show on separate occasions and will begin hosting This Morning next month, to front the Monday to Thursday programmes.
Deeley, who rose to fame as a presenter of Saturday morning ITV children’s programme SM:TV Live, alongside Ant and Dec, and its spin-off music programme CD:UK with Willoughby, called This Morning a “national institution”.
The TV star said in a statement: “This Morning is a national institution. Whenever it’s on, it’s like having your friends over – funny, smart, silly, heartfelt, informative and joyful – like all the greatest friendships!
“This Morning is and always will be the viewer’s show. Ben and I both know how much people love it, and with the help of an amazing team of people, we’re going to do our best to take care of it.”
It’s official! Say hello to our new #ThisMorning presenters! 👋 Welcome to the family. We can’t wait to see you soon! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GU0RNd6hfF
— This Morning (@thismorning) February 16, 2024
Deeley has previously hosted ITV’s Stars In Their Eyes and the BBC’s Fame Academy, and she also presented American competition show So You Think You Can Dance for more than a decade.
She and husband Patrick Kielty, the Late Late Show host, are now based in London after living in California.
Shephard, who fronts the ITV quiz show Tipping Point, has hosted Ninja Warrior UK, added: “This really feels like a very special moment for Cat and I to be part of the next chapter of This Morning. It’s an honour to be trusted with the reins, join Alison and Dermot and all the team that work on and off screen and do such a great job.
“For the last 10 years I’ve been waking up with our ITV daytime audience on GMB and I now look forward to spending time with Cat, welcoming the viewers home after the school run or from their early morning routines, with a cup of tea and a mix of everything that makes This Morning so loved.”
Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond, who host This Morning on Fridays, were among the stars congratulating Shephard and Deeley on their appointment.
Commenting on an Instagram video announcing the news, O’Leary wrote: “Huzzah! Welcome to the fam,” while Hammond wrote: “So excited about this.”
Source: Press Association
