TV presenters Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty have ended their 12-year marriage, with insiders revealing the strain of their long-distance work schedules was a key factor. The couple, who have two sons together, announced their separation in a joint statement, emphasising there is no third party involved and that they remain united as loving parents.
Close sources say the marriage had been troubled for some time. The final blow came when Deeley took over as host of This Morning while Kielty continued presenting Ireland's The Late Late Show, leaving them living apart for most of the week. An insider told heat magazine: 'Her doing This Morning and him being in Ireland a lot of the time was the final nail in the coffin.'
The couple previously lived in Los Angeles for over 14 years before returning to the UK in 2020 after a terrifying mall shooting involving their son Milo. Despite hopes that moving closer to family would help, they could not reconcile their differences. Deeley recently admitted they slept in separate rooms due to her early starts, and Kielty confirmed they spent four days apart each week.
Tensions were apparent when Deeley missed the funeral of Kielty's mother, Mary, four months before the split. Though sources said she stayed to support their sons, she did present This Morning that day. Kielty acknowledged the difficulty of juggling their high-profile roles, calling it 'kind of mad' for both to be hosting major shows.
Deeley is now focusing on herself and their boys, with no immediate plans to date. Her This Morning co-host Ben Shephard has been a supportive shoulder. Friends say she feels guilty but knows the separation is the right decision, and she wants to enjoy life again.
