Cat Deeley

Cat Deeley Headshot

Personality • Model

Birth Date: October 23, 1976

Age: 47 years old

Birth Place: West Bromwich, West Midlands, England, UK

Cat Deeley won the hearts of millions of viewers with her easygoing attitude and charisma as the host of one of network television's biggest reality competition shows, "So You Think You Can Dance?" (Fox, 2005- ). The former model launched her career in her native England as a VJ for MTV and host of several children's variety programs. After earning raves from across the pond, Deeley set her sights on making it big on American soil. In 2006, Deeley was tapped to host a dancing competition series from "American Idol" (Fox, 2002- ) creators called "So You Think You Can Dance?" Interacting with the show's contestants and playing up to the viewers every week not only showcased Deeley's effervescent charm, it helped propel her career in the States as one of the country's favorite and most-watched television personalities. Catherine Elizabeth Deeley was born on Oct. 23, 1976 in Birmingham, England. The future star spent her childhood playing the clarinet with a local youth concert band and dreaming of a career in television. Deeley made her first steps towards the public eye when she entered a regional modeling competition for the BBC's "The Clothes Show" (1986-2000), which landed her a contract at age 16 with Storm, one of the U.K.'s leading modeling agencies. The agency attempted to persuade the aspiring model to leave school, but a determined Deeley completed her education at Bishop Vesey's Grammar School in Birmingham before becoming a fulltime model at 18. With her outgoing and bubbly personality, Deeley quickly tired of modeling and decided to pursue her dreams of working in television. In 1997, she began appearing on MTV UK as a VJ. The following year, Deeley made her debut as co-host of the family variety program "SM: TV Live" (ITV, 1998-2003). Her breakthrough role on the popular Saturday kids show earned Deeley a BAFTA Children's Award for Best Presenter in 2001. The blonde beauty also earned a significant adult following as evidenced by her No. 7 rank on FHM magazine's sexiest women list that same year. In 2002, Deeley was brought on to host "CD: UK Hotshots" (ITV, 1998-2006), the "SM: TV Live" spin-off program that featured in-studio performances and interviews with pop acts. She established herself as a host of various reality programs in the U.K., from the look-a-like talent contest "Stars in Their Eyes" (ITV, 1990- ), to the music competition series "Fame Academy" (BBC, 2002- ). Deeley moved to the United States in 2006 after landing a hosting position on the Fox reality hit "So You Think You Can Dance?" The British personality was brought in for the second season after original host Lauren Sanchez left the show. "So You Think You Can Dance?" was the brainchild of "American Idol" creators Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, and aimed to find the best dancers in the country. Week after week, Deeley's affable and quick-with-a-quip personality made the contestants feel at ease and millions of viewers fall in love with her. Deeley's success with "You Think You Can Dance?" elevated her career in the U.S., which included red carpet correspondent duties for "Good Morning America" (ABC, 1975- ) as well as hosting "New Year's Eve Live" (Fox, 2006-07) specials from Times Square. Deeley eventually made her U.S. acting debut on Disney Channel's teen comedy series "Shake It Up!" (2010-13) in 2011. She guest-starred on the show as a school vice principal who secretly worked as a professional dancer. Deeley next hosted reality series "Royally Mad" (BBC America 20110 and celebrity dating series "The Choice" (Fox 2012). Meanwhile, her duties on "So You Think You Can Dance?" earned Deeley Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program every year between 2011 and 2014. Along with her continued hosting duties on that series, Deeley began hosting the singing competition "Sing: Ultimate A Cappella" (Sky One, 2017).

Credits

The 2024 FOX Spring Preview

Self
Show
2024

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

Guest
Talk
2023

Celebrating Take That and Robbie Williams

Host
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2023

Friends Will Be Friends with Cat & Edith

Host
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2022

The Story of SM:TV Live

Host
Show
2020

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2020

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

This Time Next YearStream

Host
Reality
2018

U2 at the BBC: Special Edition

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2017

U2 at the BBC

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2017

Sing: Ultimate A Cappella

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2017

STEVE on Watch

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Talk
2017

Big Star Little StarStream

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Game Show
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Host
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2017

La fièvre de la danse junior

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2017

Love by the 10th Date

Actor
Maureen
Movie
2017

Peter Kay: 20 Years of Funny

Guest
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2015

Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter

Actor
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2015

The Critics' Choice Television Awards

Host
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2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Celebrity Name Game

Contestant
Game Show
2014

DeadbeatStream

Actor
Camomile White
Series
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

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Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

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Talk
2014

Lucky Dog

Voice
Amy
Movie
2014

Secret Wedding

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2013

So You Think You Can Dance: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

Hollywood House Calls With Cat Deeley

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2013

Home & Family

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Talk
2012

Larry King NowStream

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Talk
2012

The Choice

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2012

Fashion Mob

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2012

House of LiesStream

Self
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2012

Project Runway All Stars

Guest Star
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2012

Sunday Brunch

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2011

LIVE with Kelly

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2011

LIVE with Kelly

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2011

Life's Too Short

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Herself
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2011

Dish Nation

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2011

Critics' Choice Television Awards

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2011

ConanStream

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2010

Shake It UpStream

Guest Star
Vice Principal Winslow
Series
2010

The Talk

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2010

Lorraine

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2010

Lorraine

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2010

So You Think You Can Dance

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2010

Lopez Tonight

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2009

20Q

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2009

The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien

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2009

U2 at the BBC

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2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

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2009

The Big Match

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2008

New Year's Eve Live

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2007

The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet

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2007

New Year's Eve '06

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2006

Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2006

Contestant
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2006

Rachael Ray ShowStream

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2006

Rachael Ray ShowStream

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2006

The One Show

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2006

Great British Menu

Judge
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2006

So You Think You Can DanceStream

Host
Reality
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

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2005

Cbeebies Bedtime Stories

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2004

Cbeebies Bedtime Stories

Narrator
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2004

Cbeebies Bedtime Stories

Self
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2004

Stars in Their Eyes: Kids

Host
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2004

Little Britain

Guest Star
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2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

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Talk
2003

America's Next Top ModelStream

Guest Star
Reality
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

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Talk
2003

Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

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2002

Last Call With Carson Daly

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2002

Live With Regis and Kelly

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2001

Live With Regis and Kelly

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2001

The View

Guest
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1997

Late Show With David Letterman

Guest
Talk
1993

Stars in Their Eyes

Host
Show
1993

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Herself
Series
1989
85%

This Morning

Host
Show
1988

This Morning

Self
Show
1988

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