Start date announced for Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on This Morning
They are the new permanent hosts!
Last updated 7th Mar 2024
Ever since Phillip Schofield made the decision to quit his presenting role on This Morning after more than 20 years, closely followed by his co-host Holly Willoughby, bosses have been experimenting with different presenters.
As well as Friday hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond, over the last few months, a number of famous names have fronted the show, including the like of Josie Gibson, Craig Doyle, Rylan Clark, Emma Willis, Davina McCall, and Rochelle Humes.
Who are the new This Morning hosts?
With bosses attempting to find the perfect partnership, it was officially announced that Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard have landed the permanent hosting slot on the popular Daytime show back in February.
The news was announced on Friday 16th February, with bosses writing on social media: 'It’s official! Say hello to our new #ThisMorning presenters! 👋 Welcome to the family. We can’t wait to see you soon! ♥️'. (sic)
Ben said: “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 reigns, join Alison and Dermot and all the team that work on and off screen and do such a great job.
“For the last ten 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.”
Cat added: “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.”
When do Cat and Ben start?
It's now been confirmed that Cat and Ben's first show together will be on Monday 11th March, with promos teasing their debut for the past week.
When are Cat and Ben on?
Cat and Ben will host the show every Monday-Thursday, with Alison and Dermot continuing with their Friday show.
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It was back in May 2023 when Phillip Schofield announced he's made the decision to quit his role on This Morning, before later announcing he'd resigned from ITV all together with immediate effect, after admitting to a 'consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague'.
He told the Daily Mail at the time: "The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning. I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.
"Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than a just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over...
"I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife..
"I am resigning from ITV with immediate effect, expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me.
"I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it."
Holly chose to stay on the show and was joined by a number of guest hosts from the This Morning family, before she also made the decision to leave in October, following 14 years.
She wrote on social media: 'I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning.
'To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we've done together. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you.'
Although This Morning viewers have seemingly been enjoying the mix-up in presenters since October, Cat and Ben will officially take the reins going forward from 11th March.
This Morning airs every weekday at 10am on ITV/STV.
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