Cat Deeley is no longer staying silent.

Cat Deeley, 48, is said to be anxious ahead of her This Morning return next week amid fears she’s been painted as the villain in her split from husband Patrick Kielty, 51

The beloved This Morning presenter, 48, has spoken out for the first time after weeks of speculation, blame, and relentless trolling in the wake of her high-profile split from comedian Patrick Kielty, 54.

The TV host, 48, and Irish comedian, 54, who share two sons announced their end of their 12-year marriage last month during her summer break from the ITV show (pictured 2013)

The couple, who share two young sons — Milo, nine, and James, seven — shocked fans last month by announcing the end of their 12-year marriage during Cat’s summer break from ITV. At the time, both stressed that “no other party” was involved.

But she will reportedly not mention the break-up when she returns to screens on Monday with co-host Ben Shephard , 50, weeks of trolls as well as her ex’s family blaming her for the split

But in the weeks since, the narrative has shifted. Patrick’s relatives have repeatedly spoken to the press, suggesting that Cat’s absence from his mother Mary’s funeral in March was a breaking point in their marriage — painting her as the “villain” in the story.

Now, as she prepares to return to This Morning with co-host Ben Shephard, Cat has finally addressed the storm head-on.

“How much do they really know about this marriage?” she said in a statement shared with close friends and later echoed in private conversations. “Instead of judging, maybe look at your own family first. You have no idea what happens behind closed doors.”

His family are still seething with Cat over her failure to attend his beloved mother’s funeral – and say they knew at that moment their marriage was over for good

Sources close to the star say Cat has been “deeply hurt” by the wave of judgment and the narrative that she “abandoned” Patrick during one of the hardest moments of his life.

A source said: ‘She has been hurt that people who don’t even know her have judged her for not going to her mother-in-law’s funeral in March’ (pictured 2023)

“She’s generally a very positive person,” one insider explained, “but the constant criticism, especially from people who don’t know her, has been brutal. She’s tired of being blamed for everything when the reality is much more complicated than anyone realizes.”

The tension reportedly stems from March, when Patrick’s mother Mary passed away at the age of 88. Nearly the entire village of Dundrum, County Down — a tight-knit community of 1,500 — turned out to pay their respects.

Patrick, visibly heartbroken, was photographed carrying his mother’s coffin, while Cat remained in London with their children. At the time, her spokesperson said:

“Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day.”

But for some members of Patrick’s family, her absence left deep emotional scars. One relative told the Daily Mail:

“Whatever rockiness was going on in the marriage, something as momentous as his mother’s funeral, you make up even temporarily. She knew how close Patrick was to Mary. The fact that she stayed in London and presented This Morning that day… it hasn’t been forgotten.”

It comes after Cat was spotted having removed her wedding ring and swapping the diamond to her right hand in a pointed gesture that seemingly symbolised her new life chapter

The funeral, steeped in Irish Catholic tradition, was followed by a wake, an event locals said held “huge significance.” Her absence reportedly caused embarrassment and fueled speculation that their marriage was over long before the announcement.

Patrick has since moved out of the couple’s London home and into what friends are calling his “divorce house” in Dundrum. Loved ones have rallied around him as he prepares to return for his third season hosting the iconic Late Late Show, premiering September 12.

Meanwhile, Cat has been spotted trying to find moments of peace. Earlier this month, she was photographed in Sitges, Spain, dining quietly with her longtime friend, celebrity hairdresser Ben Skervin. Dressed in a chic halter-neck dress and golden sandals, she appeared subdued, a far cry from her usual bubbly self.

The pair — longtime friends — were seen laughing softly during dinner at Chiringuito de Garraf, a restaurant frequently visited by A-listers. Ben, whose portfolio includes the Spice Girls, Madonna, Mariah Carey, and Hugh Jackman, posted snaps of their trip online, with Cat commenting tenderly:

“I love you.”

Despite the noise and speculation, those close to Cat insist she is determined to keep her focus where it belongs: on her children and her work.

“She’s walking back into that studio on Monday with her head high,” one source said. “She knows people will be watching, and she knows the whispers are still out there. But she’s stronger than people think — and she’s ready to face it.”