ITV's This Morning studio was plunged into a vortex of palpable awkwardness on Thursday as host Cat Deeley attempted a ill-fated joke about divorce, leaving her co-presenter Ben Shephard scrambling to salvage the situation.
The cringe-worthy moment unfolded during a segment with a relationship therapist. In a bid to inject humour, Deeley quipped about the expert's advice being a way to "avoid divorce," before swiftly adding, "which is what we're all trying to do, right Ben?"
The remark was met with a deafening silence. Shephard, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, could only manage a strained, closed-mouth smile and a hesitant nod, refusing to verbally engage with the loaded comment. The palpable tension was broken only by a forced segue into a commercial break, offering viewers and hosts alike a much-needed respite.
Social Media Erupts Over Live TV Blunder
Viewers at home immediately took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their second-hand embarrassment, with the moment quickly gaining traction online.
One user wrote: "Oof. That was painfully awkward. Cat's divorce joke just sucked all the air out of the This Morning studio. Ben looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole."
Another commented: "What an incredibly weird and unprofessional thing to say on live television. That's not banter, that's just uncomfortable."
A History of On-Screen Partnerships
The incident has sparked renewed discussion about the challenging dynamic of forging a convincing on-screen partnership. Deeley and Shephard took over the flagship daytime show's hosting duties earlier this year, following the exits of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
Their pairing was intended to bring stability to the programme after a period of significant turmoil and scandal behind the scenes. While generally well-received, this latest awkward exchange highlights the difficulties of cultivating natural chemistry under the relentless gaze of live TV.
Fans of the show are now left wondering if this was merely a clumsy one-off or a sign of a deeper disconnect between the two presenters. For now, the studio seems to be holding its breath, waiting to see if this morning's awkwardness will be forgotten or if it marks a new chapter of on-screen tension.
