Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley have opened up about their on-screen relationship on This Morning, addressing claims that their chemistry might be fabricated. The pair began fronting the ITV daytime show together in March 2024, following the departures of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
Now regular faces on the programme, they present from Monday to Thursday during term time, with Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary taking over on Fridays and sometimes throughout the school holidays. Given the high-profile role, many would assume the pair spent time getting to know each other before making their debut. However, that wasn't the case.
Met Just One Day Before First Show
Ben and Cat revealed they had met just one day before presenting their first show together. "I flew in from Atlanta, then came to the studio," Cat, 49, told Radio Times magazine. Ben, 51, added: "We've definitely got to know each other on air."
When the pair did eventually meet, Cat previously revealed that she "couldn't stay long" due to parenting commitments with her two sons, Milo and James, who she shares with her ex-husband Patrick Kielty. "There was no chemistry test, which flummoxes my American management," she told the Irish Daily Mail's You Magazine.
Mixed Viewer Reactions
During the early months of their partnership, viewers had mixed reactions to ITV's choice of new presenters. While some claimed they lacked chemistry, others praised them as a breath of fresh air. Asked in the same interview whether chemistry can be faked, Ben said: "You probably could for a bit, but I think you'd get found out fairly quickly."
Cat added: "Authenticity is important. When someone's watching TV, it's intimate – you're in their living room, or their kitchen. I'd never say anything on air I don't believe is true, or say I love something if I don't. That wouldn't sit right with me."
TV Marriage and Other Rumours
Describing their relationship as a "TV marriage", Ben joked that his co-star has to compete with his "other TV wife" – the arcade-style coin pusher on Tipping Point, an ITV show he also presents. Earlier this year, Cat, Ben, Alison and Dermot found themselves at the centre of speculation over a potential This Morning presenting shake-up.
After rumours circulated that Vernon Kay and Tess Daly could be added to the presenting line-up, ITV issued a statement denying the claims. "We are very happy with Cat, Ben, Alison, and Dermot as This Morning's lead presenters and there are no plans for that to change," a spokesperson shared. "2026 has got off to a great start for the show with viewing up year on year and a weekly reach of 3.7 million viewers."
A spokesperson for Vernon also told The Metro: "There's no truth to any rumours. Vernon is very happy and committed to his BBC Radio 2 show." This Morning airs every weekdays from 10am on ITV and ITVX.
