This Morning's new hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley make show debut

ok.co.uk:

After a very long wait, the two new hosts of This Morning have made their first appearance with presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley having made their debut on the blue sofa.The pair have replaced Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield as well as a plethora of other hosts from Rochelle Humes to Josie Gibson, Craig Doyle and Andi Peters as This Morning's permanent hosts.

Ben and Cat will host the episodes from Monday to Thursday, while Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond will keep their usual Friday slot.This Morning had been seeking new hosts since Philip stepped down in May last year, with his co-host Holly remaining on the show until her departure in October.

As the show opened the pair were happily chatting before turning to camera where Cat said: "We are so excited to be here." And Ben added he was feeling "giddy" as the show began.

The pair received a message from Ant McPartlin who gave Ben some advice on working with Cat. He said: “We worked with Cat and she might be all sweetness and light but that girl can party.” When the news of their new jobs broke Ben, who had been hosting ITV’s Good Morning Britain alongside Kate Garraway said: “This really feels like a very special moment for Cat and I to be part of the next chapter of This Morning. “It’s an honour to be trusted with the reins, join Alison [Hammond] and Dermot [O’Leary] and all the team that work on and off screen and do such a great job.” And Cat, who rose to fame as a presenter of the ITV CD:UK, children’s music programme, along with Holly, called This Morning a “national institution”.