This Morning reveals crucial change to the set for Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley’s first day as hosts
THIS Morning welcomed its new hosts today after much fanfare and with them came a notable change to the set.
Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley‘s first show together was an overall success and laid the foundations for what is sure to be a popular long-running partnership.
In keeping with their predecessors, the duo have been given mugs with their initials on, and they were featured pride of place moments before the show began.
A crew member placed the new B and C mugs on a shelf before delivering the scripts to the hosts.
In some cases, mugs on the show have outlived their owners’ tenure. At least that was the case with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth langsford.
Their ER mugs were seen on the shelf weeks after they were axed from their Friday slot on the show.
Elsewhere today, Cat was forced to apologise after co-host Ben pointed out an error.
While reading out the number for a phone in, Cat made a mishap and missed out a zero.
Ben was quick to correct her, pointing out the number started with 08000 rather than 0800. Cat bizarrely said she had the ChildLine number in her head.
“That’s where I’m getting it from,” she said.
Cat presented American competition show So You Think You Can Dance for more than a decade.
But after 14 years across the pond with husband Patrick Kielty and their sons, they decided to move back to the UK.
Earlier in the show, comic duo Ant and Dec gave Ben “a word of advice” about Cat, whom they worked with on Saturday morning kid’s show SM:TV Live.
Last month The Sun revealed that Ben and Cat had been selected for the coveted role hosting This Morning after a string of rotating presenters.
Pay for the new duo is understood to be around £550,000 each — £150,000 less than Holly and Phil.
Cat said: “We are so excited to be here … This show has been a huge part of our lives for so long, so to be actually standing here with you, it’s good.”
Opening the show today, Ben, said: “Hello, it’s Monday March 11, welcome to a brand new week.”
He also thanked those who have sent them messages of support, which included a cheeky message from Ant and Dec, as well as former footballer Chris Kamara.