CAT Deeley is “desperate to work with a HUGE star over Ben Shephard”, as she enters into a tug of war with This Morning bosses.
It comes after it was revealed she was “being forced” to choose between joining This Morning or returning to the US to host So You Think You Can Dance.
Late last year, the TV veteran, 47, was said to have rejected a deal from ITV to replace Holly Willoughby in favour of continuing her duties on So You Think You Can Dance – for which she is reportedly paid £344k-a season.
But now the telly star is said to have been offered a mega £555,000 contract to remain in the UK.
Following this revelation, it’s now being reported that if Cat signs a deal and joins This Morning, there is only one co-host she wants to work alongside of – Rylan Clark.
According to the Daily Mail, she would like to work alongside the popular Radio 2 host after she presented the ITV daytime show with him for two episodes last November.
However, as The Sun previously revealed, ITV want her to work with Ben Shephard.
The GMB host has reportedly “not wanted to put pen to paper on a deal” until he knows who he will be working with.
The Mail reports how sources at This Morning say that there are now “several obstacles” to get through, before Cat will sign, including who her co-host could potentially be.
The Sun first exclusively revealed back in December that ITV were desperate to sign up Cat and Good Morning Britain presenter Ben to be the new faces of This Morning.
Bosses want them to replace Phillip Schofield and Holly following their departures earlier this year, beginning in either January or February.
A source told us at the time: “This is one of the most coveted gigs in UK television. ITV execs are determined to get it right.
“Cat really impressed when she came in, and Ben is a consummate professional and hugely popular with the housewife demographic.
“He’s an extremely safe pair of hands, has real gravitas, and doesn’t have a whiff of scandal around him — he’s purer than pure.
“Cat is the number one target to replace Holly, but negotiations are ongoing.
“Lots of people were considered, but ultimately it’s all about chemistry.
“Everyone is very excited, and the sense is that Ben and Cat will be a real boost to morale on the ground.”
In May last year Phillip admitted to an affair with a younger colleague following weeks of on-air tension with one-time best mate Holly and subsequently quit his roles at ITV.
Five months later Holly — his Dancing On Ice co-star — also left after a plot to kidnap her came to light.
Cat shot to fame in 1998 when she hosted the children’s programme SMTV Live, along with Ant and Dec.
Soon after that she hosted Fame Academy on the BBC, and the 2004 Brit Awards.
Cat then became the presenter of Stars In Their Eyes from 2003 to 2006, taking over from Matthew Kelly.
Since 2006, she has been the host of So You Think You Can Dance in the US.
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