London — Television presenter Cat Deeley is said to be struggling emotionally as she prepares to return to ITV’s This Morning following the announcement of her marriage split from comedian Patrick Kielty.
The 48-year-old star and her husband, 54, confirmed their separation last month in a joint statement, but friends say she is finding it difficult to deal with the backlash from Kielty’s family and inner circle.
Feeling ‘anxious’ before on-screen comeback
According to a source close to the presenter, Deeley has been feeling “anxious” about her first day back on air after the breakup.
“She has decided not to discuss the breakdown of her marriage on screen,” the insider revealed, adding that Deeley was particularly hurt by criticism for missing her late mother-in-law’s funeral in March.
Emotional toll of public judgment
Deeley reportedly feels “villainized” by people who have judged her without knowing the full story. “Cat is a really positive person, but it hurts her to have blame piled on during what is already a painful time for both her and Patrick,” the source said.
The couple, who share two sons — Milo (8) and James (6) — had been together for more than a decade before announcing their split.
Public signs of separation
Speculation intensified when Deeley was seen without her wedding ring. Around the same time, Kielty was photographed in Spain with a male friend, dining at a restaurant in Sitges, a celebrity-frequented hotspot.
While neither has elaborated further on the reasons behind their separation, those close to Deeley insist she is focused on her children and her career as she returns to her morning television role.