Cat Deeley is said to be anxious ahead of her This Morning return next week amid fears she’s been painted as the villain in her split from husband Patrick Kielty.
The TV host, 48, and Irish comedian, 54, who share sons Milo, nine, and James, seven, announced the end of their 12-year marriage last month during her summer break from the ITV show, stressing that ‘no other party’ was involved.
Cat will reportedly not mention the break-up when she returns to screens on Monday with co-host Ben Shephard, 50, as she battles nervous after weeks of trolls as well as her ex’s own family blaming her for the split.
Patrick’s relatives are still seething over her failure to attend his beloved mother’s funeral in March. Her spokesperson told Daily Mail at the time: ‘Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day.’
Now, ahead of her TV return a source said: ‘Cat feels anxious ahead of her first day back after announcing the bombshell news of her split during her break’.
‘She has been hurt that people who don’t even know her have judged her for not going to her mother-in-law’s funeral in March. Even people from within Patrick’s family and inner circle who don’t know her well have criticised her for that,’
Cat Deeley, 48, is said to be anxious ahead of her This Morning return next week amid fears she’s been painted as the villain in her split from husband Patrick Kielty, 51
The TV host, 48, and Irish comedian, 54, who share two sons announced their end of their 12-year marriage last month during her summer break from the ITV show (pictured 2013)
They told The Sun: ‘[And to] and make out that it was the reason for the split when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Cat is generally a really positive person but it hurts her to have people piling the blame onto her when this is a painful situation for them both.’
Daily Mail have contacted Cat’s representatives for comment.
Her ‘no show’ at the funeral back in March has left deep emotional scars within the Kielty family who say it confirmed for them that there was little chance of a reconciliation between the two.
Clearly still upset at the anger and embarrassment it caused the family, one relative told the Daily Mail: ‘Whatever rockiness was going on in the marriage, something as momentous as his mother’s funeral, you would make up even temporarily and just put your ‘best face’ on as we say in Northern Ireland.
‘Cat obviously knew how close Patrick was to Mary and she should have come to be by his side, a hand on his shoulder as he buried his mother. The fact that she stayed in London and presented This Morning on the day, it’s not been forgotten.’
The source added: ‘In a very tight knit community in Northern Ireland, people always turn out. It’s the done thing. His family remain very upset by this. They still can’t believe it. It was the point when we all realised that that marriage had ended.’
Patrick looked bereft as he carried Mary’s coffin through his home village, where he was joined by close family and friends at the Church of the Sacred Heart.
A spokesperson for Cat told the Daily Mail at the time: ‘Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day.’
But she will reportedly not mention the break-up when she returns to screens on Monday with co-host Ben Shephard , 50, weeks of trolls as well as her ex’s family blaming her for the split
His family are still seething with Cat over her failure to attend his beloved mother’s funeral – and say they knew at that moment their marriage was over for good
A source said: ‘She has been hurt that people who don’t even know her have judged her for not going to her mother-in-law’s funeral in March’ (pictured 2023)
Patrick and his family are well known and hugely respected within the Dundrum community and virtually the whole village of 1500 people turned up to pay their respects at Mary’s funeral.
It was followed by a wake, with the whole ceremony surrounding her death at the age of 88 holding huge significance in Irish Catholic traditions.
One source said: ‘The wake and all these other things are of huge importance. The house was full non-stop but [Cat] not being there was obviously a topic of conversation and caused a huge amount of embarrassment.
‘The family and their friends felt let down. We felt that Cat could have just turned up to hold his hand or put an arm around his shoulder at the graveside, regardless of the problems they might have been having. For something like this, you would put on a show of unity, it’s not too much to ask.’
Meanwhile Patrick’s own career move has also been revealed after previously admitting to not feeling like an equal partner during the relationship.
The funnyman is back hosting the national broadcaster’s iconic chat The Late Late Show for a third season on September 12.
It comes after he moved from the marital home in London to a ‘divorce house’ in Dundrum, County Down where family and friends have been rallying around him.
Cat recently returned from a Spanish getaway with a male pal and in snaps obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail, she was seen out at a restaurant in Sitges, frequently visited by celebrities, minus her wedding ring.
It comes after Cat was spotted having removed her wedding ring and swapping the diamond to her right hand in a pointed gesture that seemingly symbolised her new life chapter
She recently returned from a Spanish getaway with a male pal and in snaps obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail, Cat was seen out at a restaurant in Sitges
The Londoner has previously featured on photos alongside Cat on social media and describes himself as a ‘freelance celebrity and fashion hairdresser’ (pictured together)
According to fellow diners at the picturesque eatery called Chiringuito de Garraf, the presenter appeared ‘downcast’ while wearing a halter neck dress and golden sandals, as she tucked into her meal, believed to be lobster.
The mystery man joining her for dinner was hairdresser friend Ben Skervin, who documented his trip to Spain on his Instagram page which Cat commented on, writing: ‘I love you.’
The Londoner has previously featured on photos alongside Cat on social media and describes himself as a ‘freelance celebrity and fashion hairdresser’.
According to his personal website, he has previously worked with the Spice Girls, Keira Knightley, Madonna, Mariah Carey and Hugh Jackman, photographers including Karl Lagerfeld and top fashion magazines American Vogue and Vanity Fair among others.
The restaurant snaps were taken on August 2, just days after Cat and Patrick announced their separation after 12 years of marriage.
A fellow diner told the Daily Mail: ‘Cat looked a bit down and a touch crestfallen, not her usual spritely self, which is understandable given her marriage split.
