Television presenter Cat Deeley has delighted fans by sharing a series of nostalgic photographs from a heartwarming reunion with Hollywood producer Jeff Thacker. The This Morning host, who is 49 years old, was pictured beaming with joy as she caught up with the executive producer over a glass of red wine earlier this week.
A Full Circle Moment
Posting the sweet snaps to her Instagram account, Cat captioned the images with a reflective message about their long-standing professional relationship. "Full circle moment … Almost 30 years ago @jeffthacker and I had lunch before I started filming for ‘Stars In Their Eyes’!" she wrote.
She continued by recounting their initial meeting at The Ivy restaurant, where Jeff challenged her to articulate her ambitions. "He took me to the Ivy and said ‘Now you tell me all the reasons that will make you make it!’ So silly… the arrogance of youth! Thankfully I had a great mentor and what would be an unbreakable friendship!"
Career Highlights and Transitions
Cat Deeley's television career has spanned several notable programmes over the decades. In 2003, she co-presented the BBC One talent show Fame Academy before taking on the role of presenter for ITV's Stars in Their Eyes.
Following the final series of that show in 2006, Cat began hosting the popular reality competition So You Think You Can Dance in the United States. Her work on the programme earned her five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, cementing her status as a respected television host across the Atlantic.
Reflections on Life in Los Angeles
The reunion with Jeff Thacker comes shortly after Cat participated in a viral social media trend, sharing photographs from her life in Los Angeles in 2016. She spent fourteen years living and working in the United States, fronting various television shows and attending high-profile red carpet events alongside Hollywood stars.
Looking back a decade, Cat posted glamorous images from that period, humorously noting, "Heels were high, filters were strong and my hand made a permanent peace sign!" The photographs depicted her on television sets and dressed in sparkling mini dresses for nights out with friends.
In a playful exchange with her stylist friend Charlie Brear, Cat joked that their signature looks for evenings out were achieved with "dry shampoo and a dress out a case for the win!"
Personal Milestones and Family Life
The year 2016 also marked a significant personal milestone for Cat Deeley, as she gave birth to her first child, son Milo. She shared a tender throwback photograph of herself playing with her baby boy on Halloween, highlighting cherished family memories.
Cat and her now ex-husband, comedian Patrick Kielty, expanded their family while living in Los Angeles, welcoming their second son, James, in 2018. However, the family made the decision to return to the United Kingdom in 2020, driven by several factors including career opportunities and safety concerns.
Return to the UK and Career Developments
Since returning to Britain, Cat has taken on the role of co-presenter for ITV's This Morning alongside Ben Shephard, beginning in 2024. This appointment followed a significant presenter shakeup on the programme after the departures of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
Beyond the professional pull of the This Morning job, Cat has openly discussed another major reason for the family's relocation: growing disillusionment with life in Los Angeles following a terrifying gun incident.
A Harrowing Safety Scare
In a previous interview with YOU Magazine, Cat revealed her anxiety about potential school shootings as her children approached school age. These fears became a stark reality when her family experienced a mall shooting incident firsthand.
"That danger became even more real last summer when Milo and his father went to the Century City Mall in LA after morning nursery," she explained. "The FBI turned up with guns and ordered everyone to take cover under counters or hide because a shooter was on the loose."
Patrick and their young son were forced to take shelter in a Shake Shack kitchen when they learned a gunman had entered the building. Cat described how her husband tried to keep their son calm so he wouldn't comprehend the gravity of the situation.
"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?’ It was terrifying. Paddy was shaken by it, more than Milo, who was hot and cranky but didn’t properly understand," she added.
Current Life and Co-Parenting
Cat now resides in London with her two sons, co-parenting amicably with Patrick Kielty following their separation last year. The couple announced their decision to divorce in a joint statement released in July, confirming they had chosen to end their thirteen-year marriage while remaining united as parents.
Reports have surfaced regarding family tensions, notably concerning Cat's absence from Patrick's mother's funeral earlier in the year. A spokesperson for Cat addressed the situation at the time, stating, "Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day."
A Friendship Turned Romance
Cat and Patrick first met in 2002 while co-hosting Fame Academy, though their romantic relationship did not begin until a decade later. Cat has previously shared how Patrick transformed their friendship by flying from Belfast to Los Angeles to celebrate with her over brunch.
The couple went public with their relationship in May 2012 and married in an intimate ceremony in Rome that September. Despite their recent separation, their professional collaboration and personal history remain significant chapters in both their lives.
Cat Deeley's reunion with Jeff Thacker serves as a poignant reminder of her career's enduring connections and the full-circle moments that define a life in the spotlight.
