Cat Deeley signs HUGE new This Morning deal but makes surprise admission about her time on ITV show
CAT DEELEY has signed a bumper new deal to remain fronting embattled This Morning until 2026.
The Sun understands Cat will remain on the ITV daytime show until the spring of 2026 after landing a huge deal netting her over half a million pounds.
Cat’s new contract kicks in in March and is said to be in the realm of £600,000 for a 12 month stint.
Her co-host Ben Shephard, 50, has also agreed to extend his time on the This Morning sofa alongside her.
However, while Cat is happy to remain on the show for a further year, she has insisted to pals she “doesn’t want to be the next Holly Willoughby“.
Pals added: “Cat loves This Morning but has conceded she’ll be one of their shortest ever serving presenters.”
Holly Willoughby was on the show for 14 years while Philip Schofield hosted the programme for two decades.
Meanwhile, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford presented This Morning for 15 years.
Cat, 48, joined This Morning alongside Ben Shepherd, 50, in February this year.
The pairing – although popular with fans – have failed to impress in the ratings.
Just over a million Brits tuned in to watch the duo make their debut in March but by May an average of just 486,000 were watching.
Earlier this month The Sun revealed how BBC bosses have upped the anti to steal This Morning’s daytime ratings crown.
They are currently beefing up their rival daytime magazine show Morning Live and extending it from 45 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes from the new year.
It will also move time slots to create an overlap with the once great ITV show.
While This Morning is currently floundering with six figure viewing figures, Moving Live and its star studded line up pull in around 1.1million fans daily.
Cat and Ben’s appointment came after months of turmoil following Phillip Schofield‘s messy departure from the programme in May 2023.
A source explained: “Cat was brought in alongside Ben to steady the ship and she’s done just that.
“Ratings have been tricky but the daily drama has finally ended.
“Cat signed a year-long deal with Ben last year and she’s agreed to another 12 months.
“But Cat has confided in friends she is growing tired of it and will be looking for a new challenge when this deal expires in 2026.
“Cat loves This Morning and their output, she also adores her co-hosts and the crew.
“But ultimately she has zero desire to follow in Holly’s footsteps and become a long running This Morning legend.
Cat has confided in friends she is growing tired of it and will be looking for a new challenge when this deal expires in 2026
A source
“That being said, she wants to remain loyal to the show and will see things through another year.
“Behind the scenes the chatter is ‘when’ and not ‘if’ she will call a halt to her time on the sofa.”
In a sliver of hope for ITV bosses the This Morning Christmas special pulled in 1.1 million viewers.
It marks the fifth consecutive year This Morning has won the Christmas Day morning slot between 10am and 12pm.
A source said: “December has been really strong for ITV – hopefully with Cat and Ben firmly onboard she can make 2025 a great year for the show.”