Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CAT’S BACK
Star returns to front Lorraine
CAT Deeley is making her big UK comeback after 14 years in the States – as the presenter of Lorraine.
The star has been headhunted by ITV Daytime bosses to fill in on the popular morning show all of next week.
The 43-year-old host has not had a major UK telly gig since moving to the US in 2006, where she fronted So You Think You Can Dance and This Time Next Year.
But after coming back with husband Patrick Kielty this year, she is in demand.
Speaking about the new show, Cat said: “Lorraine has kindly entrusted me with her show while she has a break over Easter.
“I’m so happy to be back at ITV for the coming week and looking forward to meeting some people I’ve wanted to interview for sometime and also welcoming some old friends on air.”
Lorraine is enjoying its best viewing figures in a decade, up 35% in the first ten weeks of the year and peaking in March with 1.8m viewers. Guests confirmed next week include Louise Redknapp – Cat’s friend from the SMTV Cat The Dog sketch.
Stacey Solomon is also booked to appear as well as singer Tom Odell and actress Melanie Hill. Ranvir Singh will host the show the following week from April 12.
Victoria Kennedy, editor of ITV’S Lorraine, said: “Next week the lovely Cat Deeley will take the helm of Lorraine, providing viewers with much-needed Easter enjoyment. I’m more than just a bit delighted. And of course we look forward to welcoming Ranvir back too.”
Cat recently reunited with her SMTV Live co-stars Ant and Dec for a sketch to mark the 30th anniversary of the ITV kids’ show.
The star, who has sons Milo, four, and James, two, told previously how she was thinking about moving back to the UK because of US gun laws.
She said her comedian husband Patrick and Milo were on a trip to a mall in LA when police officers told them to take cover because a gunman was on the loose.
■ Lorraine is on weekdays from 9am.
I’m so happy to be back on ITV for the week CAT DEELEY ON HER RETURN TO CHANNEL