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Cat Deeley left viewers baffled as she avoided mentioning her well-publicised divorce when asked about her summer on Monday’s installment of This Morning.
The television presenter, 48, recently announced the end of her 12-year marriage to Irish comedian Patrick Kielty, 54.
Patrick and Cat, who share sons Milo, nine, and James, seven, stressed that ‘no other party’ was involved in the disintegration of their relationship.
In her first on-screen appearance since the break-up, Cat awkwardly side-stepped a question about how her summer went, leaving fans hyper aware of the elephant in the room.
When asked by co-host Ben Shephard, 50, about her time off, Cat said: ‘We had a lovely summer.
‘Lots of beach action, family, friends, kids, bags of groceries as a big as my head… but I was really looking forward to coming back to work, it’s a bit weird!’
But viewers were confused at her decision to avoid the obvious issue of her divorce, and shared their thoughts on social media.
‘When will Cat mention her divorce?’ said one, while another wrote: ‘Don’t forget “got divorced” Cat!’
Some watchers saw the comedic side, with one writing: ‘So Cat, how was your break?
‘Not so bad, thanks Ben. Marriage irreparably broke down, went on holiday, beach action etc.’
And one watcher said simply: ‘Don’t forget divorce, Cat.’
The beloved TV host was 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 Patrick.
Cat reportedly planned not to mention the break-up when she returned to screens with co-host Ben as she battles nerves 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 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.’
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.’
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.’
The 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.’
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV1 from 10am and is available to stream on ITVX.
