NO DEEL-EY
Cat Deeley ‘rejects This Morning offer to replace Holly Willoughby for huge telly job in the US’
Bosses had approached Cat and another huge star to become This Morning's new faces
CAT Deeley has 'turned down' a mega bucks offer to replace Holly Willoughby on This Morning, according to reports.
The telly star, 47, is said to have rejected ITV's big money deal to be the new female host of the show in place of a different job.
5
5
Insiders have told the that bosses are now "tearing their hair out" as they scramble to find a replacement for Holly.
Cat has apparently decided to return to her hosting job for So You Think You Can Dance? in the US instead.
The former SM:TV host has presented the massive American entertainment show in the States since 2006.
A source told the Daily Mail: "The relaunch date was supposed to be in January but that is no way going to happen now.
READ MORE ON THIS MORNING
"Cat was the answer. She would have been an absolute triumph but they just couldn't make it work."
The source said it is now "back to the drawing board" in a bid to find a new host for the flagship daytime show.
Cat's reps and ITV have both been contacted for comment.
The Sun exclusively revealed this week that ITV had offered Cat and Good Morning Britain presenter Ben Shephard big-money deals to be the new faces of This Morning.
Most read in TV
Bosses wanted them to replace Phillip Schofield and Holly following their departures earlier this year, beginning in either January or February.
A source told us: "This is one of the most coveted gigs in UK television. ITV execs are determined to get it right.
“Cat really impressed when she came in, and Ben is a consummate professional and hugely popular with the housewife demographic.
“He’s an extremely safe pair of hands, has real gravitas, and doesn’t have a whiff of scandal around him — he’s purer than pure.
“Cat is the number one target to replace Holly, but negotiations are ongoing.
“Lots of people were considered, but ultimately it’s all about chemistry.
“Everyone is very excited, and the sense is that Ben and Cat will be a real boost to morale on the ground.”
Pay offers for the new duo were understood to be around £550,000 each — £150,000 less than Holly and Phil.
In May, Phillip, 61, was forced to quit after admitting to an affair with a younger colleague, following weeks of on-air tension with one-time best mate Holly, 42.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
He later gave an interview to The Sun detailing his heartbreak about losing This Morning.
Five months later Holly — his Dancing On Ice co-star — also left after a plot to kidnap her came to light.
5
5
5
Topics