Yahoo News Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard's sweet backstage meeting with Holly Willoughby
Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard enjoyed catching up with Holly Willoughby
What did you miss?
This Morning duo Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard enjoyed bumping into Holly Willoughby during Wednesday night's National Television Awards at The O2.
Regaling ITV watchers with tales from the star-stuffed ceremony, which was hosted by Joel Dommett, Deeley and Shephard said it was "lovely" to see their This Morning predecessor letting her hair down after a turbulent last year or so.
They replaced Willoughby and Phillip Schofield as the show's Monday-Thursday presenters seven months ago.
What, how and why?
Referring to the NTAs, Shephard began by explaining: "I've put a very cosy cardigan on because I feel like we need a warm hug, because it was quite a late night Cat Deeley..."
The Tipping Point star described it as a "really wonderful, joyous occasion" spent beside the likes of fellow This Morning staff Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary. Deeley added: "We're kind of the naughty corner. When you put us all together like that we're definitely the naughty corner who need watching."
"We certainly had a fabulous night; how lovely to see Holly there as well!" said Shephard. "Oh it was lovely and we saw each other backstage, she was running one way I was running the other - we gave each other a big kiss, trying not to trip on our gowns and walk in our high heels," Deeley then recalled.
Her colleague finished off by claiming "it was just gorgeous to see her there".
Willoughby sent Deeley a blossoming bouquet of flowers when she landed the job on This Morning. Deeley told the Sunday Times: "Holly sent me a beautiful bunch of flowers and a handwritten card. It was a really classy move, it really touched me."
What happened to ex-This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby?
Together with Schofield, Willoughby co-hosted This Morning for 14 years in total. When his extramarital affair made headlines though, Schofield stepped down from the programme, leaving Willoughby with a revolving cast of co-stars between June and October 2023.
In the October, the 43-year-old was made aware of a kidnapping plot designed by the now-imprisoned Gavin Plumb. Willoughby was taken into protective custody and never returned to the This Morning sofa.
She did however work on the latest series of Dancing on Ice alongside Stephen Mulhern, and now has various TV projects in development.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV1.
