Cat Deeley’s much-anticipated return to This Morning on Monday quickly took an awkward turn, leaving viewers baffled after she sidestepped any mention of her highly publicised divorce.
The 48-year-old presenter only recently confirmed the end of her 12-year marriage to Irish comedian Patrick Kielty, 54. Together they share two sons, Milo, nine, and James, seven. The pair publicly insisted that “no third party” was involved in their split.
But when co-host Ben Shephard, 50, casually asked Cat how her summer had been, her bright answer raised eyebrows.
“We had a lovely summer,” she smiled. “Lots of beach action, family, friends, kids, bags of groceries as big as my head… but I was really looking forward to coming back to work, it’s a bit weird!”
While her words sounded upbeat, fans immediately noticed the glaring omission — and social media lit up. 
“When will Cat mention her divorce?” one viewer asked, while another bluntly posted: “Don’t forget ‘got divorced,’ Cat!”
Some even joked:
“So Cat, how was your break? Not so bad, thanks Ben. Marriage irreparably broke down, went on holiday, beach action etc.”
Behind-the-Scenes Anxiety
Off-camera, sources say Cat was deeply nervous about her return. She reportedly fears being unfairly painted as the “villain” in the breakup, particularly after criticism from trolls and even members of Patrick’s family.
The tension largely stems from March, when Cat did not attend the funeral of Patrick’s mother, Mary, in Dundrum, Northern Ireland. Instead, she stayed in London with their two sons — and even presented This Morning the same day. 
Her spokesperson said at the time:
“Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day.”
Still, some close to Patrick’s family remain deeply upset. One relative told the Daily Mail:
“Whatever problems were going on in the marriage, something as important as his mother’s funeral — you would make up, even temporarily, and just be there. Cat obviously knew how close Patrick was to Mary, and she should have been by his side. The fact she stayed in London and went on TV that day hasn’t been forgotten.”
They added:
“In Northern Ireland, people always turn out for a funeral — it’s the done thing. His family still can’t believe she wasn’t there. For many of us, that was the moment we realised the marriage had truly ended.”
Cat Remains Silent
Sources close to Cat say she feels wounded by the judgment and insists the funeral had nothing to do with their separation. One insider told The Sun:
“Cat is a positive person, but it hurts to have people piling the blame on her. To suggest her absence was the reason for the split couldn’t be further from the truth.”
As of now, Cat Deeley has not publicly addressed the backlash following her awkward TV return, and her representatives have yet to issue any further comment.
📌 Source: Daily Mail
