Television presenters Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty have decided to put their £5 million London home back on the market, a project described as a "hardcore passion project" that has been halted with work far from complete. The decision comes after the couple, who relocated to the UK from Los Angeles in 2020, announced their separation approximately a year ago.
Friends of the couple say the extensive renovation plans for the 1950s property in Hampstead, north London, had added to the strain on their marriage. "It was with a heavy heart that Cat and Patrick decided to halt the work," one pal told the Daily Mail. "It’s heartbreaking. They put a lot of time into it and had an amazing vision not just for what the house would look like, but that their boys would grow up there."
The couple, who share two young sons, Milo and James, purchased the property in 2023 with the intention of transforming it into their forever home. The decision to move back to the UK was prompted by a terrifying lockdown incident at an LA shopping mall involving Kielty and their eldest son, Milo, during a shooting scare. Deeley recalled the incident, stating she realized she could not raise her family in the U.S.
Their ambitious renovation plans, which Deeley shared glimpses of on Instagram in 2024, included extensive alterations such as a double-height open-plan living space, extended bedrooms, new suites for a nanny and children, dressing rooms, a home bar, and an office. The plans also aimed to incorporate an "LA feel" with more daylight and a more imposing entrance hall, alongside garden reshaping. However, the property is currently described as being in "poor condition," with visible signs of an abandoned building site.
Sources suggest that the couple will incur a significant financial loss on the sale. While the current market price is listed as £5.25 million, £350,000 more than their purchase price, it is understood they have spent considerably more on the renovation work. The property is listed with Savills estate agent.
The strain of the renovation project is believed to have exacerbated existing issues in their relationship. Kielty, 55, who hosts RTE's flagship show The Late Late Show in Ireland, reportedly spent the majority of his week in Ireland, leaving much of the renovation oversight to Deeley, 49. The couple had already experienced periods of long-distance separation when Deeley fulfilled her contract for "So You Think You Can Dance" in the U.S. for a year after their move.
Their separation announcement in a joint statement emphasized their commitment to remaining united as loving parents, stating "there is no other party involved." Despite this, speculation has persisted regarding the reasons behind the split. Some familiar with the couple suggest a sudden, "seismic" event may have occurred, particularly around March 2025, following the death of Kielty's mother, Mary. Deeley's absence from the funeral, explained by her need to be with their children, fueled further conjecture.
In addition to the personal setbacks, industry insiders note that Deeley's co-hosting role on ITV's "This Morning," which she took over from Holly Willoughby in 2024, has faced challenges. She has reportedly been criticized by viewers for being "too Hollywood" and having "zero chemistry" with co-host Ben Shephard, with the show reportedly achieving its lowest ever ratings under their tenure, struggling to attract 500,000 viewers compared to the two to three million previously seen with Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
Sources at ITV have indicated that Deeley's role on the program could be reviewed, mirroring the unfinished nature of their Hampstead home project.
