Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty's heartbreaking explanation for moving back to UK
Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty tied the knot after just nine months of dating after plucky Paddy flew across the world to woo the TV star.
With presenting gigs including So You Think You Can Dance and The Late Late Show, under their belts, the showbiz couple used to live in L.A before deciding to come back to Blighty. Cat, 47, who shares two kids with The Late Late Show host, 52, is now expected to replace Holly Willoughby permanently on This Morning. So, as viewers look forward to her debut today alongside Rylan Clark, here's the lowdown on her wild romance with the Irish comedian.
Meeting on a reality TV show
Patrick told Tommy Tiernan he met on the set of reality TV show, Fame Academy in 2002. However, the couple were in a relationship with other people at the time. "We each had partners at the time and nothing went on, but there was a wee vibe there," Patrick told Tommy, in January. The "wee vibe" ended up growing into a spark led, which saw Cat and Patrick stay in in touch with one another as friends, making sure they wished one another 'Happy Birthday'. But, it was one birthday in particular, which would change everything...
Patrick and Cat met on a reality show (PA)
Patrick flew across the world to woo Cat (Dave Benett/ Getty Images for Sp)Patrick flies across the world to woo Cat
Cat told The Late Late Show's Ryan Tubridy in 2020, she got the best present ever from Patrick for one of her birthdays. Opening up about the 'day that changed everything', she said: "There was a night where it was the day before my birthday - I can’t even remember what birthday it was now! It was 30-something - he called me and he spoke to me on the phone.
"He said, "Oh, what are you doing for your birthday? I’m just ringing to say happy birthday". I said, "Oh, we’re going to the Beverly Hills Hotel. We’re just going to have a late brunch; it’s going to be very civilised. It’s a shame you’re not here, otherwise, you could come".' At the time, Patrick was in a pub in County Down, but dashed to the airport to catch a 7am flight to LA for the next day. At her birthday brunch, Cat confessed she nearly fell off her chair when Patrick breezed in, confessing at this moment she "slightly fell in love with him".
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Tying the knot after a whirlwind nine months of dating
The couple tied the knot in 2012 after a whirlwind nine months of dating. They exchanged vows at the scenic St Isidore's College in Rome. However, Cat admitted she was so uninterested in wedding details she let Patrick take over planning their very "chilled-out ceremony". Speaking to Closer after the wedding, she said: "Patrick went and tried the food and did all that, I never even saw the place where I got married before I got married, that’s how uninvolved I was." She did have one requirement for the special day, however, citing that the guests dressed up to the nines and have the best day ever! "I get to dress up and have really special occasions all the time, so to me, that was the most exciting thing to happen," she shared.
Adding to their family
After their wedding, the couple welcomed sons, Milo, seven, and James, five. Cat and Patrick prefer to keep their private lives private, but their kids do sometimes features on on Cat's Instagram in adorable snaps. Back in 2022, the Birmingham-born star shared some hilarious anecdotes about life as mum, telling The Ellen Show her kids had a "naughty" habit of not wanting to keep their clothes on. With the audience giggling, she joked: 'It's fine now but not when they are 17 and doing it in supermarkets."
Heartbreaking reason they moved back to UK
Cat has admitted part of the reason she moved back to the UK from Los Angeles with her family was due to fears over gun violence in the US. The TV presenter returned to Britain with her husband Patrick and their two sons, Milo in 2020, admitting it took them three years to make the transition.
They had been living in sunny California, but Cat explained part of the reason they decided to come back was after Patrick and their eldest son Milo were caught up in a terrifying mall shooting. Speaking to You magazine, Cat said Patrick and Milo were at the Century City Mall in Los Angeles when FBI agents started ordering shoppers to take cover because there was a shooter on the loose.
She said: "They shut down the centre. I got a call from Paddy, saying: "They’re taking us out through the fire exits but nobody can get to their car. If we walk to a junction, can you come and get us?" Thankfully, Patrick and Milo were ok, but Cat said she realised she couldn't raise her family in the US when she started looking at schools for her boys.
"They tell you exactly what would happen, whether the kids would go to a safe room or hide under the desks…The danger suddenly becomes a reality," she explained, concluding she's happy she made the move so her sons can go to school in the UK and spend precious time with their grandparents.
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