Cat Deeley is reportedly hoping for one thing ahead of her This Morning return in two weeks(Image: ITV)

The world was shocked to its core last month when much-loved couple Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty announced their separation after 13 years of marriage.

The presenters, 48, and 54 respectively, shared a joint statement on July 29 that read: “We have taken the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. There is no other party involved.

“We will continue to be united as loving parents to our children and would therefore kindly ask for our family privacy to be respected. There will be no further comment.”

Interestingly, the two decided to make their announcement while Cat is away on her Summer break from This Morning, which she usually co-hosts during term time with Ben Shephard.

She announced her separation from husband Patrick Kielty just last month(Image: Getty Images North America)

Now reports have suggested that this was a conscious decision as she didn’t want to be in the limelight, and with her return to the ITV show looming, Cat is said to be hoping that viewers will have forgotten about it.

A source told Mail Plus: “There will be literally six weeks between Cat’s break-up announcement and her returning to work. There will be literally six weeks between Cat’s break-up announcement and her returning to work.

“Imagine if she had been on screen when it broke? I guess she didn’t want to have to deal with that. It was easier to go on holiday.”

After the announcement, the mum-of-two was spotted enjoying a break in the Spanish town of Sitges with her hairdresser to the stars pal, Ben Skervin, hoping to no doubt keep a low profile and wait for things to blow over.

She’s expected to return to the iconic This Morning sofa with co-host Ben, 50, on Monday 1 September and viewers will have to wait with baited breath to see if she opens up about her split.

The former couple met while hosting BBC’s Fame Academy together in 2002, but it wasn’t until 2011 that they finally decided to take their friendship to a romantic level.

They proceeded to get married in Rome in 2012 and are parents to two sons, Milo, 9, and six-year-old James.

Cat hosts the morning show with Ben Shephard

Although Cat and Patrick didn’t reveal the reason why they decided to call it quits, reports have claimed that their equally busy work schedules got in the way and drove a wedge between their marriage.

Cat has hosted This Morning alongside Ben since early last year, and previously lived in Los Angeles for more than 10 years. Meanwhile, Northern Irish presenter Patrick is the host of RTE talk show The Late Late Show, having taken over from Ryan Tubridy in 2023.

Despite living in the UK, Patrick would travel to Dublin every week to present the show from the RTE studios. Due to their clashing schedules, it became difficult for Patrick and Cat to spend quality time together, according to insiders.

They told Mail Online: “Despite living in the UK, Patrick would travel to Dublin every week to present the show from the RTE studios. Due to their clashing schedules, it became difficult for Patrick and Cat to spend quality time together, according to insiders.”