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Cat Deeley’s Brummie Accent: How She Won Over ITV Viewers!

BBG News

Loyal This Morning viewers have noticed something different about Cat Deeley’s accent recently.

As someone who originates from close to Birmingham and has spent the past three decades showcasing programs across the Atlantic, I’ve managed to keep my local accent largely under wraps. However, for the first time in my career, I find myself embracing my Brummie roots as I speak to you today.

Viewers of the ITV program, where she’s been the host for about a year now, seem to notice and appreciate her stronger West Midlands accent more. I hear they find it endearing.

48-year-old Cat, who skyrocketed to stardom in the late ’90s as a co-host of the morning show CD:UK alongside Ant and Dec, seems content to revisit her beginnings.

Originating from West Bromwich, she spent her childhood years in the outskirts of Birmingham, specifically in Sutton Coldfield and Great Barr. Here, one would often hear schoolchildren saying ‘funny’ as ‘funn-ay’ and ‘singer’ as ‘sin-ga’.

Growing up was this individual’s experience in West Bromwich, transitioning to life in the Birmingham suburbs of Sutton Coldfield and Great Barr. In these areas, children would commonly pronounce ‘funny’ as ‘funn-ay’ and ‘singer’ as ‘sin-ga’.

Lastly:
She hails from West Bromwich but spent her early years in the outskirts of Birmingham, specifically Sutton Coldfield and Great Barr. These areas are known for their distinctive pronunciations of words such as ‘funny’ (as ‘funn-ay’) and ‘singer’ (as ‘sin-ga’).

However, it wasn’t Cat who made her big debut on children’s TV during that time, likely because producers were less welcoming of regional accents compared to current practices.

Currently, there’s a shift in the norm, as evidenced by Alison Hammond’s growing fame on Cat’s This Morning, who embraces her distinct Brummie accent with pride. The once disparaged dialect has experienced a transformation of sorts, thanks to the gritty portrayal of the Birmingham underworld in the hit series Peaky Blinders.

For Cat, it significantly improved her connection with ITV audience members – an aspect that the bosses of This Morning initially felt might not be automatic following her successful career in the U.S.

ITV’s head of television, Kevin Lygo, strongly wanted to recruit Cat Deeley for the role vacated by Holly Willoughby on their iconic couch. However, due to Cat’s 15-year stint in Los Angeles hosting the popular American show “So You Think You Can Dance,” there were concerns that she might be too accustomed to Hollywood, or ‘too Tinseltown.’

At a luncheon, when ITV inquired about her potential as their prime daytime show’s host, I noted that she exuded a distinctly ‘Hollywood’ charm. However, I expressed my belief that she would be highly successful in this role, given not only her exceptional talent as a presenter but also her notable achievement of breaking into the American market.

According to a source within ITV, the show’s audience prefers presenters who feel relatable. They aren’t interested in well-known celebrities from Hollywood, as they find it difficult to identify or connect with them.

Although Cat was the ideal candidate, they had to go through various hurdles to secure her services, almost losing out on her along the way. However, concerns arose that she might be overly polished and self-absorbed.

However, Cat understood her spectators well, being an intelligent individual. She was careful not to give the impression that she considered herself a star.

Cat, wife of Irish TV host Patrick Kielty, 54, isn’t only adjusting her accent; she also seems to have altered her fashion style. Previously, while hosting So You Think You Can Dance, she was renowned for her designer clothes and towering heels. However, on a recent episode of This Morning, I observed her wearing the exact same £45 dress from Marks & Spencer that I had just purchased. This black and gold number is one of the store’s most popular budget-friendly finds.

Using the hashtag #Cat’s Closet, she showcases her outfits on Instagram, many of which are from affordable high street brands such as Mango and Zara. Her footwear is not typically Jimmy Choo, but rather from Dune, where heels generally cost about £80 instead of £800. Unlike many of her ITV colleagues, Cat chose to forgo a personal stylist and instead relied on the stylists provided by the broadcaster.

In the course of the discussion, it’s hard not to notice how often she mentions her sons, Milo, aged eight, and James, aged six. Cat seems very comfortable talking about her boys, a trait that will likely make her more relatable to many mothers tuning in at home.

Then, of course, there is her friendship with co-host Ben Shephard, 50.

People who know him would agree that he possesses a divine presence, yet he lacks flashiness. In fact, those who have collaborated with him often refer to him as ‘Dull Ben’. However, Cat has surprisingly developed a robust and seemingly sincere connection with him in a short amount of time.

According to a source from the show, one issue was that Cat and Ben hadn’t interacted much for quite some time. This raised concerns about their compatibility, given that Cat had just left Hollywood while Ben had been working closely with Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain for years. However, they seem to have found a good fit, and it’s delightful to see.

Individuals working off-camera are reported to have a deep affection for Cat, and following a challenging year with the Philip Schofield incident, they find working on This Morning to be enjoyable once more. As one staff member puts it, “Cat has spent a significant amount of time in Hollywood and worked alongside numerous big names, but you wouldn’t guess that when she enters the studio.” They describe her as a refreshing presence, adding that she is humorous, considerate, and not pretentious.

Executives at ITV are equally enthusiastic. In 2023, there were discussions about canceling This Morning when I disclosed that Schofield had been involved in an affair with a significantly younger and lower-ranked coworker, which he repeatedly denied. Furthermore, he employed press regulator IPSO to rule in his favor after this publication ran a previous story about the affair.

Later on, he offered a sincere apology for his deceitfulness and resigned from the broadcasting company where he had spent thirty years. Furthermore, his untruths damaged the close bond he shared with Miss Willoughby.

For approximately seven months following Schofield’s departure, she continued her role on “This Morning,” but ultimately decided to resign when she became aware of a chilling threat against her: a former security guard named Gavin Plumb had allegedly planned to kidnap, rape, and murder her.

The employee remarked, ‘It was an exceptionally difficult period, far beyond what one might typically expect. It seemed like one problem led to another, making it incredibly frustrating and, at times, heart-wrenchingly sad. There were many tears hidden backstage.’

Currently, the viewership numbers look promising, yet it’s the halt in negative headlines that has ITV executives particularly pleased. As one insider explains, viewers are now tuning into “This Morning” for updates on both current events and entertainment.

Rather than attributing the mix of news and entertainment primarily to impersonal factors, a significant role in this can be credited to Cat and Ben. Their choice outfits and occasional Brummie accent have also contributed positively.

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2025-04-20 03:34

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