Ben Shephard made a cheeky — and rather pointed — on-air remark as Cat Deeley was unexpectedly replaced on This Morning on Tuesday, leaving viewers stunned by both the sudden switch and his playful swipe.
The 50-year-old presenter, who usually hosts alongside Cat, 49, from Monday to Thursday, instead found himself sitting next to Alison Hammond — marking their very first time presenting the show together.
Alison, 50, is normally paired with Dermot O’Leary on Fridays, but was drafted in as a last-minute stand-in for Cat, who was notably absent from the ITV daytime show. No official explanation was given on air for her absence.
“Christmas Wishes Do Come True…” — Ben’s Cheeky Comment Goes Viral
As the pair appeared on screen together for the first time, Ben immediately drew attention to the unexpected pairing.
“How about this, Alison Hammond?” he joked at the top of the show.
Alison, playing along, replied with mock confusion:
“What am I doing here? What is going on? I was in bed, having a little sleep — and suddenly I’m here!”
Ben then delivered the line that sent social media buzzing:
“Christmas wishes do come true, that’s all I’ll say. Our first time together — you never forget your first time, Alison!”
The playful exchange quickly sparked speculation from viewers about Cat’s sudden disappearance — and whether Ben’s comment carried an extra edge.
Cat’s Absence Comes After Painful Split from Patrick Kielty
Cat’s absence from This Morning comes just months after her shock separation from husband Patrick Kielty.
The TV presenter, 48, and the Irish comedian, 54, who share sons Milo, nine, and James, seven, announced the end of their 12-year marriage last month, during Cat’s summer break from the show. They stressed that “no other party was involved” in the split.
However, insiders later revealed that Cat had been battling anxiety ahead of her planned return to work in August — amid fears she had been unfairly “painted as the villain” in the breakup.
Family Tensions and Backlash Behind the Scenes
It was reported that Cat had also faced harsh criticism online, combined with tension from within Patrick’s own family.
Patrick’s relatives were said to be deeply upset that Cat did not attend his mother’s funeral in March. At the time, her spokesperson explained to Daily Mail:
“Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day.”
Despite this, a source later revealed:
“Cat feels anxious ahead of her first day back after announcing the bombshell news of her split. She has been hurt that people who don’t even know her have judged her. Even people from within Patrick’s family and inner circle have criticised her for it.”
Another insider added that Cat is usually a positive person, but the wave of blame aimed at her has been deeply painful during an already emotional time.
Emotional Segment Airs Amid the Presenter Switch
Despite the behind-the-scenes tension, This Morning continued with powerful real-life stories on Tuesday’s episode.
Ben and Alison welcomed Melissa Ashcroft, a 30-year-old mother-of-one who lives in constant pain due to her size 36M breasts. Melissa revealed she takes an hour every morning just to get out of bed, and struggles to lift her eight-month-old daughter due to crippling back pain.
She shared how her breasts have continued growing since puberty, now weighing more than a stone each, causing permanent spinal damage including a slipped disc.
By the time she was 20, she was suffering cuts from her bra straps and severe shoulder pain.
“I thought, ‘This can’t continue,’” she told the hosts. “It can’t go on.”
She is now crowdfunding for breast reduction surgery in hopes of regaining her quality of life.
What’s Next for the This Morning Line-Up?
With Cat’s sudden absence, Ben’s unexpected pairing with Alison — and his eyebrow-raising on-air remarks — fans are now questioning what’s really happening behind the scenes at This Morning.
For now, ITV has made no official statement regarding Cat’s continued absence.
Source: 
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/