The debut of This Morning’s new permanent hosts, Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, has sparked a wave of criticism from viewers. The duo took over the reins from the once beloved Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, who bid farewell to the ITV daytime show last year.
Cat and Ben assumed their roles as official co-hosts from Monday to Thursday, promising a fresh perspective on the show. However, the initial response from viewers was less than enthusiastic, with some expressing disappointment over the lack of changes in the show’s set and format.
The announcement of Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard as permanent hosts came last month, raising eyebrows among This Morning’s audience. The decision to bring in a new hosting duo was driven by the departures of Holly Willoughby in October 2023 and Phillip Schofield in May of the same year. The rotating roster of guest presenters during the interim period left fans eager for stability, which the new hosts were expected to provide.
This Morning’s new duo receive flak from viewers
Taking the reins from the previous duo, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, Cat and Ben kicked off their first show together on Monday, March 11, with an air of excitement. However, within seconds of the show starting, social media was flooded with complaints about the perceived lack of innovation in the show’s presentation.
@AMG_Review expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “Big new era for #ThisMorning starts today AAAAAND… they’ve not changed anything on the set, the items are all the same.” @ThisIsMeUK1 added, “Now I’ve watched it, I’ve turned it off and back on with watching Young Royals on Netflix. Love Cat & Ben, but I think This Morning just feels dated to me, to be honest!”
@MitchellWebb85 echoed the sentiment, questioning the decision not to refresh the show’s visuals. The user said: “All new This morning but the titles and set remain the same? Surely this was a great time to make things look fresh #ThisMorning.”
Despite the barrage of negative feedback, some viewers took a more optimistic stance, embracing the new This Morning hosts. One Twitter user shared, “Nice to see Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley presenting #ThisMorning.” Another expressed support, saying, “Wishing @benshephard and @catdeeley the best of luck on their presenting debut on #ThisMorning today! They’ll do an amazing job!”
The debut episode featured Cat and Ben expressing their excitement and gratitude for the opportunity. While they received messages of support from industry colleagues, including Ant McPartlin, Dec Donnelly, and Chris ‘Kammy’ Kamara, viewers seemed divided on whether the show’s format and appearance had evolved enough to mark a new era.