ITV bosses have been forced to delay the relaunch of This Morning after Cat Deeley turned down the job to replace Holly Willoughby.
Executives on the daytime chat show were said to be ‘gutted’ after Ms Deeley decided to return to America to host So You Think You Can Dance instead.
They had pinned their hopes on signing up the 47-year-old after being impressed by her performance as guest presenter last month.
She was a big hit with viewers who hailed her as ‘brilliant’, ‘amazing’ and ‘a breath of fresh air’.
The US talent show, which Ms Deeley has hosted since 2005, had been put on hold during the Covid pandemic but was unexpectedly revived earlier this month.
ITV bosses have been forced to delay the relaunch of This Morning after Cat Deeley turned down the job to replace Holly Willoughby
Executives on the daytime chat show were said to be ‘gutted’ after Ms Deeley decided to return to America to host So You Think You Can Dance instead
Ben Shephard, who had been lined up to join Ms Willoughby before she left, is understood to be remaining at Good Morning Britain for the time being
They had pinned their hopes on signing up the 47-year-old after being impressed by her performance as guest presenter last month
Ms Deeley’s decision to return to the series means that the mother-of-two only has a few weeks free in February and March before she will have to head to the US to film its live episodes which will run until June.
She is married to Patrick Kielty, the comedian, who hosts The Late Late Show on RTÉ One.
A source said: ‘There are a lot of people [at ITV] pulling their hair out right now.
‘The relaunch date was supposed to be in January but that is no way going to happen now.
‘Cat was the answer. She would have been an absolute triumph but they just couldn’t make it work. Now it is a case of back to the drawing board to decide a new plan of action.’
ITV bosses have been looking for a permanent duo to host This Morning from Monday to Thursday following the departures of Ms Willoughby and Phillip Schofield rather than continue with rotating presenters.
Ms Willoughby left in October after 14 years after an alleged kidnap plot against her emerged. Schofield quit in May following a scandal over an affair with a younger male colleague.
Bosses had also approached Emma Willis, who presents ITV’s The Voice, but the mother-of-three could not commit to four days a week.
Christine Lampard, who is married to former England footballer Frank Lampard and has two children, is said to be ‘adored’ by ITV executives but has similarly refused to work full time.
Irishman Craig Doyle, 52, is said to be the favoured male presenter.
Ben Shephard, who had been lined up to join Ms Willoughby before she left, is understood to be remaining at Good Morning Britain for the time being.
Regular star Josie Gibson will front a number of shows from next week and throughout January while Alison Hammond appears in pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
Bosses had also approached Emma Willis, who presents ITV’s The Voice, but the mother-of-three could not commit to four days a week
Christine Lampard is said to be ‘adored’ by ITV executives but has similarly refused to work full time
Irishman Craig Doyle, 52, is said to be the favoured male presenter (Pictured co-hosting with Cat Deeley)
Regular star Josie Gibson will front a number of shows from next week after returning from I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here!
Cat impressed viewers with her guest stint on This Morning (pictured with Rylan Clark)
Andi Peters and pop singer Mollie King hosting This Morning
However, despite her success on this year’s I’m A Celebrity, Ms Gibson, 38, is not considered a contender for the main anchor job at the moment.
Since she jetted out to the jungle, a number of other stars have hosted, including pop singer Mollie King, Rylan Clark and Andi Peters.
Sources at ITV say there are other ‘potentials in the mix’, adding: ‘Bosses are happy to wait to get it right.
‘They aren’t rushing anything and are committed to waiting until they get the right pairing. It’s always been the aim to have a permanent duo alongside Alison and Dermot [O’Leary].
‘But the surprise silver lining to such a tough year for everyone on the show has been the success of the mix of presenters – some of the nation’s favourite faces rotating.’
Ratings since Ms Willoughby left have been growing, ITV insiders say. November and December have seen the highest ratings of 2023, with peak audiences exceeding one million.