This Morning Cat Deeley Missing as Angela Scanlon Steps In on ITV Morning Show
What happened: On Tuesday morning (February 24) Angela Scanlon, 42, stood in beside Ben Shephard on This Morning while Cat Deeley was not present, with Shephard offering only that his co‑host was "away. " Why it matters now: Viewers reacted strongly to the unexplained absence and to Scanlon’s appearance, coming as she has recently taken a high‑profile role on a new Apprentice spin‑off.
This Morning Cat Deeley absence and Ben Shephard's on‑air explanation
Ben Shephard, 51, opened the programme by welcoming Angela Scanlon and briefly acknowledging Cat Deeley’s absence, saying simply that "she's away. " The limited explanation prompted immediate bewilderment among viewers and on social channels. The continuity announcer also appeared to miss the change in presenters, a small production slip that viewers flagged before the programme began.
Angela Scanlon's background and recent Apprentice role
Scanlon — described on air as "gorgeous" during her introduction — is an Irish presenter who has previously hosted The One Show and appeared on Strictly in 2023. Last month she became the face of a new spin‑off titled The Apprentice: You're Fired, a role that, the programme noted, coincided with comedian Tom Allen leaving that spin‑off. The context presented that Scanlon’s arrival on the spin‑off led directly to Tom Allen’s exit.
Studio rundown, guests and headlines including Peter Mandelson reference
The show’s line‑up on Tuesday included Eternal singer Louise Redknapp, interior designer Kelly Hoppen and money saving expert Martin Lewis. Presenters previewed other segments in the schedule: Nick Ferrari and Ashley James were announced as contributors to discuss the day’s headlines and an item mentioned that someone "has been released on bail after Peter Mandelson's arrest last night on suspicion of misconduct in public office" — the subject of that release is unclear in the provided context. The programme also teased a nostalgia segment on 1990s culture, referencing the Spice Girls, Friends and the game Snake as part of a fashion and era discussion.
Personal details Scanlon shared on air and family context
On camera Scanlon spoke about half‑term at home, describing it as "like a boxing match" and noting she is mum to two daughters, Ruby and Marnie, whom she shares with Roy Horgan. She referred to one child as four years old and the other as "soon‑to‑be eight, " adding that the elder daughter "turns eight tomorrow" and that they had a birthday haircut inspired by Hannah Montana. Scanlon also hosts a podcast with Vicky Pattison; her on‑screen outfit was described as a River Island jacket, Zara trousers and ASOS heels.
Viewer reaction on X and calls to replace Cat Deeley
Social media responses were swift. One user asked, "No Cat today?" while others pointed out the continuity announcer blunder. Several accounts on X praised Scanlon and urged she appear more often: one handle called her a "breath of fresh air, " another said she was "far more natural and herself than Cat, " and another explicitly requested, "Can we please replace Cat Deeley with Angela Scanlon?" Additional posts described her as doing a "great job" and being a "different level as a presenter. "
Ben and Cat have been presenting the ITV talk show together since 2024, forming the programme’s first main duo after the departures of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, a sequence of changes that frames viewer sensitivity to any further presenter shifts. What makes this notable is that Scanlon’s fill‑in comes amid a busy period for her career — a new Apprentice role and a high‑profile slot on a flagship morning show — and that those moves have already affected another presenter, Tom Allen.
Questions remain about Cat Deeley’s absence, the continuity announcement error and the identity of the person released on bail after the reference to Peter Mandelson’s arrest; those details are unclear in the provided context. Meanwhile, viewer reaction and calls for Scanlon to become a more regular presence illustrate the immediate impact of a single unscheduled presenter change.
