The This Morning team, consisting of Cat Deeley, Ben Shephard, Dermot O’Leary, and Alison Hammond, are eagerly anticipating the holiday season, which will provide a much-needed break from their early morning routines at ITV’s west London studios. For each of them, spending quality time with their loved ones during the holidays holds extra significance after a jam-packed year.
Cat, 48, reflects on 2024 as a whirlwind year, splitting her time between the US and the UK. Her co-host, Ben, is set to celebrate his 50th birthday on December 11 with his wife, Annie Perks, and their two children. “I want to try to make sure that I spend my 50th year being as fit and as healthy as I can – emotionally, physically, whatever being fit at 50 means,” Ben remarks in an exclusive chat with The Mirror’s We Love TV.
Friends Dermot and Alison have also had a busy year. In addition to co-hosting the Friday shows, Dermot, 51, presents BBC Radio 2’s Saturday breakfast show, while Alison has taken over as the host of For The Love Of Dogs, following the late Paul O’Grady, and continues to bring laughter to The Great British Bake Off alongside co-host Noel Fielding.
Alison, who will turn 50 two months after Ben, shares, “My main goals are just to stay happy – and keep working with Dermot!”
(Image: RAY BURMISTON)
What’s your earliest Christmas memory?
Cat: As a wee lass, I recall waking up at the crack of dawn, around 3am, and rushing into my parents’ room to ask, “Has Santa been?” They’d make me wait until 6am before I could dash downstairs and usually squeal with joy.
Dermot: I have a vivid memory of Father Christmas gifting me a toy car garage when I was about five years old.
Alison: My first memory is of my mum telling me she didn’t think Santa could afford to get me a BMX bike. I reassured her, saying, “It’s OK, Mum…” But then on Christmas Day, somehow, Santa managed to get me a BMX.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
Cat: When I was about seven, I received a bike. I remember how massive it seemed when I went downstairs. It was pink, adorned with ribbons on the handlebars and a little bag on the back.
Alison: The best gift I ever received was last year when Dermot and the This Morning team had my mum’s name placed on a seat at the Hippodrome Theatre in Birmingham [Alison’s mum Maria passed away in 2020 from cancer]. It’s right at the front and it also says, “Maria, the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.” It was the best present I’ve ever had. I did get emotional on the show. I’ll get to see it again this year when I’m back doing panto. It’s like I’m performing for my mum.
(Image: @alisonhammond/Instagram)
Is there a song or film that just screams Christmas to you?
Ben: I absolutely adore Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues – that’s my go-to Christmas karaoke song.
Alison: I always watch The Holiday during the festive season – it really gets me into the Christmas spirit.
How are you celebrating?
Alison: I’m hosting Christmas for the first time in my new house, but everyone’s got a job to do. My sister’s doing the turkey, my nephew is doing the lamb and I’ll do all the veg.
Ben: Because there’s so many of us, we’re having Christmas Day in the village hall. It’ll be a big lunch with all 26 of us.
Cat: Our usual Christmas Day involves getting up early because my boys are six and eight, so they’re true believers in the magic of Christmas.
Dermot: We have a bit of an open house for family to come over. I love cooking.
(Image: Instagram)
Will you buy presents for each other?
Ben: The lovely thing about Cat is it’s not about the material, it’s about the emotional, so I’ll find something that’s suitably appropriate, that feels relevant to this amazing adventure we’ve been on for the last nine months.
Cat: Because it’s Ben’s 50th, I’ve got to think of something for that, too. That’s going to be a phone call to his wife Annie because I need to pick her brain.
Alison: The partnership between me and Dermot is a bit like a marriage because in the past he’s given me jewellery and chocolates. But I don’t have to do his laundry or anything – I literally get all the good stuff. I do know exactly what I’m getting Dermot this year.
Dermot: Do you? I’ve got a good idea about what I’m getting you, too.
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