Cat Deeley Discusses Sleepless Nights Amidst Co-Parenting After Split from Patrick Kielty
The television presenter opens up about her anxieties as a single mother and her decision to move her children back to the UK.
Cat Deeley has shared that she experiences sleepless nights filled with worry about her children following her separation from Patrick Kielty. The presenter, 49, and comedian, 55, announced their split in July 2025 after 12 years of marriage. They are now co-parenting their two sons, Milo, 10, and James, eight.
Deeley admitted that her concerns for her children have intensified since they were younger. "I just want them to be happy, and I tend to worry a little bit too much," she stated. "Sometimes when I can’t sleep at night, I go into this kind of spiral of, 'Will they be happy, and will they find something that they love to do?' and 'Will they find someone to love?' You just want the best for them."
She also highlighted the importance of her support system, particularly her nanny, whom she described as her "right-hand woman." Deeley mentioned that she has "a great team of people around me."
The family relocated from Los Angeles back to the UK in 2020, a move Deeley explained was motivated by her desire for her sons to attend school in Britain and to be closer to family. Last month, she spoke about her new role as a single mother, noting that she and Kielty share parenting duties on a "50-50" basis and that "Everybody’s doing their best."
Deeley has also been vocal about her fears regarding gun violence, a concern that was heightened by a frightening incident her family experienced in Los Angeles. Her husband, Patrick, and their son Milo were in the Century City Mall when the FBI responded to a shooter on the loose, ordering everyone to take cover. Deeley recounted how her husband was trying to keep their son calm during the chaotic event.
This experience, along with others, influenced her decision to move her children back to the UK for their education. "I moved back to the UK because I wanted the boys to be educated here," she told The Times. "London is a melting pot. I like that there is very little segregation and I think it’s important that [my sons] see different types of people from different backgrounds."
Deeley recalled her anxiety about potential school shootings in America even before her children started school. The incident at the mall solidified these fears, making her realize the reality of the problem. "When we were looking around schools, we were shown the safe room children go to when there is a live shooter," she said. "It made me realise how [school shootings] are real. They are a problem."