NEW DEELEY
Cat Deeley ‘offered huge £555k a YEAR pay cheque to host This Morning’ but could be forced to QUIT US job
Her potential co-host was also offered a mega-money deal
CAT Deeley is 'being forced' to choose between joining This Morning or returning to the US to host So You Think You Can Dance.
The telly star is said to have been offered a mega £555,000 contract to remain in the UK.
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A source told : ";Cat will not get any special treatment… She will absolutely not be given time off to film the next series of So You Think You Can Dance.
"So she has to make that decision, it’s one or the other, end of."
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.
The former SM:TV host has presented the massive American entertainment show in the States since 2006.
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The Sun first exclusively revealed back in December that ITV were desperate to sign up Cat and Good Morning Britain presenter Ben Shephard to be the new faces of This Morning.
Bosses wanted them to replace Phillip Schofield and Holly following their departures earlier this year, beginning in either January or February.
However, their pay offers were understood to be around £150,000 less than Holly and Phil wages.
A source told us: "This is one of the most coveted gigs in UK television. ITV execs are determined to get it right.
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“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.
She then became the presenter of Stars In Their Eyes from 2003 to 2006, taking over from Matthew Kelly.
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Since 2006, she has been the host of So You Think You Can Dance in the
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