Television presenter Cat Deeley has been pictured enjoying a festive family day out at LaplandUK with her two young sons, following her surprising separation from husband Patrick Kielty earlier this year.
A Heartwarming Festive Escape
The This Morning host, 49, dedicated quality time to her children, Milo, nine, and James, six, during a wholesome visit to the popular Christmas-themed attraction. Sharing a joyful montage on her Instagram on Monday, Cat offered followers a glimpse into their seasonal activities, which included ice skating, a visit to Santa Claus, and a pantomime show.
The family also marvelled at festive light displays and met some of the park's resident reindeer. Captioning the series of photos and videos, Cat wrote warmly: 'To Lapland and Back in a Day!! We didn’t get there by Sleigh, but we did see Father Christmas!! ♥️✨'. She added a special mention for her mother, writing: 'And Grandma was our plus one! (she’s got a hotline to Santa) Xx'.
Background of a Separation
The cheerful outing comes just five months after Cat and Patrick Kielty, 54, publicly announced the end of their 12-year marriage. In a joint statement released in July, the couple confirmed their separation, stressing that 'no other party' was involved in the breakdown of their relationship. It is believed the split was privately finalised at the start of the year before being made public.
The statement read: 'We have taken the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. There is no other party involved. We will continue to be united as loving parents to our children and would therefore kindly ask for our family privacy to be respected. There will be no further comment.'
Family Tensions and a Missed Funeral
Reports have since surfaced regarding tensions within Patrick Kielty's family, particularly concerning Cat's absence from the funeral of his beloved mother, Mary, in March. According to sources, her 'no show' at the emotional event caused deep upset and signalled to the Kielty family that a reconciliation was unlikely.
A relative previously 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... The fact that she stayed in London and presented This Morning on the day, it's not been forgotten.'
In response, a spokesperson for Cat stated at the time that she remained at home in London to care for her two young children before and after school on that sad day.
Cat and Patrick, an Irish comedian, first met in 2002 while co-hosting BBC's Fame Academy but did not become a couple until a decade later. Their romance began when Patrick flew from Belfast to Los Angeles to take Cat for a celebratory brunch. They went public with their relationship in May 2012 and married in an intimate ceremony in Rome that September. The couple lived in California for ten years before relocating to the UK to be closer to Cat's family.
