Cat Deeley tipped to take over from Holly Willoughby on This ­Morning

Cat Deeley has been tipped to take over from Holly Willoughby on 'This ­Morning'.

The 47-year-old TV presenter is said to have proved popular when she returned to screens to guest-host the show for three days last week and now a new report suggests she's being seriously considered as a contender to take over the lead role from Holly, who quit the role last month after 14 years on-air.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "She takes live TV in her stride and is really witty and personable with guests. She’s comfortable interviewing both pop stars and politicians. Cat would be a safe captain to steady the ship."

The insider also suggested ITV bosses could even consider bringing Cat's TV star husband Patrick Kielty onboard too, adding: "Cat and Pat has a great ring to it.

"A married couple hosting This Morning again would be the dream ... although to just have Cat would be perfect too."

Cat was previously a regular on UK TV before stepping away and moving to America where she hosted shows including ' So You Think You Can Dance' and even making a guest appearance in 'The Simpsons'.

She married Patrick in 2012 and they had two sons - Milo and James - together while living in California, but they moved back to the UK three years ago.

Cat previously admitted they decided to make the move after Patrick and on Milo were caught up a terrifying incident at the Century City Mall in Los Angeles when FBI agents started ordering shoppers to take cover because there was a shooter on the loose.

She told You magazine: "They shut down the centre. I got a call from Paddy, saying, 'They’re taking us out through the fire exits but nobody can get to their car. If we walk to a junction, can you come and get us?'

"He wanted to keep Milo calm, so I didn’t understand the enormity of what was happening.

"As I was driving I began to see helicopters, news vans, firemen and SWAT [armed police response] squads. It makes me go funny now. It was terrifying ... Paddy was shaken by it, more than Milo, who was hot and cranky but didn’t properly understand."