Monday’s This Morning kicked off with a bit of a curveball, as regular hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard were noticeably absent. Instead, viewers were greeted by Dermot O’Leary and Sian Welby, who casually confirmed on Instagram that they’d be taking over hosting duties for the week — but said nothing about why Cat and Ben were missing.
While the pair kept it quiet, Cat and Ben have likely simply taken a break to spend time with their families over the Easter holidays. Ben, 50, shares two sons, Sam and Jack, with his wife Annie, and Cat, 48, is mum to Milo and James, whom she raises with her husband, Patrick Kielty. Though Ben’s plans are under wraps, Cat gave a little hint that she’s soaking up the sun somewhere, posting a beachy clip on Instagram with a cheeky “Out of office” tag.
Still, that didn’t stop fans from reacting online, with many heading to X (formerly Twitter) to weigh in on Dermot and Sian’s surprise appearance. Let’s just say the reaction’s been pretty mixed. Some viewers are enjoying the change-up, while others are missing their regular duo, reported Hello! Magazine.
And it’s not just Cat and Ben’s absence that’s got people talking. It feels like This Morning has been in a bit of a shake-up phase lately. In March, Vanessa Feltz made headlines when she confirmed she was leaving the show after an incredible 33-year run. Vanessa, a familiar face on the sofa since 1992, revealed that she had to make a tough decision to step away from This Morning to focus on her new Channel 5 project.
“I’m now doing my own show, and I can’t do both,” she explained to the Daily Star. “When I told everyone I wouldn’t be able to do the show anymore, they were lovely about it. I heard from Alison Hammond and Holly Willoughby immediately, and the bosses were charming. I’ll miss working with them all.”
As for what’s next, Vanessa is buzzing with excitement over her brand new show, Vanessa, calling it “a sparkling adventure” that puts real-life stories and conversations front and centre. She promises a show packed with honesty, heart, and plenty of fun – no politics, just real talk.
So while This Morning fans might be feeling the changes, there’s no shortage of TV moments ahead – even if the faces at the helm are shifting more than usual.
