Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley surprised the showbiz world this week when they announced their marriage was over after 13 years
News of Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley’s split took showbiz fans by surprise this week.
The Late Late Show host and his British presenter wife announced on Tuesday that their marriage was over after 13 years. Paddy, 54 and Cat, 48, were television’s power couple and were thought to be happily married with two young sons.
However, they said in a joint statement on Tuesday: “We have taken the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. There is no other party involved.”
READ MORE: Patrick Kielty ‘could be in dark place’ if fresh Cat Deeley fear comes true after splitREAD MORE: Cat Deeley made cryptic marriage comment ahead of shock split from Patrick Kielty
Their love story was particularly sweet as they met as friends and colleagues on TV show Fame Academy in 2002 first, before they got married a decade later. Love blossomed when Patrick crossed continents to make it to a birthday lunch for Cat in LA.
Their unexpected break-up is the latest in a line of celebrity separations and divorces in 2025, the Irish Mirror reports. Celeb fans are calling 2025 the year of shock star splits, as there have been so many of them.
Jessica Alba and Cash Warren
Jessica Alba split from her husband of 16 years, film producer Cash Warren in January. The Fantastic Four actress shared the news on Instagram, saying she had been on a “journey of self-realisation” and that “It’s time for us to embark on a new chapter of growth and evolution as individuals”. They had been together for 20 years and have three children.
Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson
Also in January, Jessica Simpson broke up with husband Eric Johnson after a decade of marriage. The singer, 44, and NFL player, 45, have two daughters and a son and said although it was a “painful situation” they are focusing on their children.
Thalia Heffernan and Angus Scott-Young
Another New Year break-up was Irish model Thalia Heffernan and her rugby player boyfriend, Angus Scott-Young. Thalia, 29, met the Australian sports star, 27, through a dating app in the summer of 2024.
The pair shared their relationship all over social media, with posts of them posing together in various places. However, with Angus playing in London for Northampton Saints, it seems the long-distance relationship was tricky.
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom
Star couple Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom recently called it quits after nine years together. They broke up earlier this year, but only confirmed the news last month.
The pair met in 2016, had daughter Daisy Dove in 2020 and were engaged for three years. However, there was much speculation about the state of their relationship, with talk of how they were no longer on the same page.
Pop singer Perry did not attend the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, though superstar British actor Bloom was a guest.
They released a statement saying: “Orlando and Katy have been shifting their relationship over the past many months to focus on co-parenting. They will continue to be seen together as a family, as their shared priority is – and always will be – raising their daughter with love, stability, and mutual respect.”
Bloom since posted cryptic quotes from psychologist Carl Jung on Instagram, reading: “Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself.”
This week, it was reported Perry was seen out on a date with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.
Lily Allen and David Harbour
Smile singer Lily Allen, 40 and husband, Stranger Things actor David Harbour, 50, split dramatically this summer after four years of marriage. The colourful couple married in Las Vegas in a 2020 ceremony officiated by an Elvis impersonator.
Allen’s daughters – teens Marnie and Ethel, who she shares with ex-husband Sam Cooper – were also in attendance and the couple seemed to be madly in love. However, romance turned sour for the two, who were said to have been living separate lives before the split. Allegations of infidelity on the part of Harbour made the break-up acrimonious.
Rumours suggested Harbour was cheating on Allen, using the celeb dating app Raya. While not addressing the end of the relationship on her podcast Miss Me, Allen has referenced it, hitting out at the unfairness of how men prefer younger women. David Harbour is now dating model Ellie Fallon, who at 27, is 23 years his junior.
Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan
Sabrina Carpenter, 26, and Barry Keoghan, 32, confirmed they were over as we went into 2025. The two stars had appeared as love’s young dream when they got together in 2023.
They walked the red carpet together at the Met Gala in eye-catching outfits and appeared at glamorous events like the Grammy’s after-party and Oscar parties. Saltburn star Keoghan even appeared in his American girlfriend’s video for her song, Please Please Please.
Their split made headlines all this year as pop singer Sabrina suggested some of her new tracks were about her relationship with the Dublin actor. When Carpenter released her single Manchild on June 8, she posted the cheeky caption: “This one’s about you!” However the song’s cutting lyrics were a hard kick to her ex.
Maura Higgins and Pete Wicks
Reality TV stars Maura Higgins and Pete Wicks were together for more than six months – having known each other for six years – before their messy split.
Pete said of Maura: “We’ve known each other for a long time. We have the same sense of humour, she’s super intelligent. She’s incredibly witty. We have always been there for each other at a distance.”
But it ended in allegations of infidelity. Longford Love Island star Maura, 34, reportedly dumped Strictly star Pete, 37, after becoming suspicious of him. She found lots of messages on his phone from other women and felt she couldn’t trust him.
On Valentine’s Day this year, she was seen leaving a restaurant alone and when asked by a fan where Pete was, she was filmed replying: “I don’t know, probably cheating.”
Paddy and Cat join a list of shock Irish celeb splits over the years.
Others include Boyzone star Ronan Keating and model wife Yvonne Connolly, who split in 2010 after a 14-year marriage. The showbiz couple had tried to rescue their relationship after an alleged affair between Ronan and a dancer, but ended up separating.
Ronan since married wife Storm and Yvonne is with film producer John Conroy.
The Saturdays star Una Healy married rugby player Ben Foden in 2012, but they split in 2018. They share a son and daughter.
Irish model Glenda Gilson and rugby star Brian O’Driscoll were the power couple of the Celtic Tiger for four years until they broke up in 2005. Brian went on to marry Actress Amy Huberman and Glenda wed businessman Rob McNaughton.
Presenter Laura Whitmore and musician Danny O’Reilly were the Irish rock couple of 2010 before they split in 2012. Laura said: “We broke up for a reason – it’s no one else’s business.” Laura is now married to presenter Iain Stirling and Danny’s girlfriend is model Vanessa O’Connell.
Blizzards’ star Bressie and his one-time girlfriend Roz Purcell were in a relationship for four years before they broke up in 2016. They have both moved on to new relationships and have remained friends.
Ryan Tubridy’s romance with scientist Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain was very high-profile when they got together in 2009. But they parted ways in 2014.
Ryan, 52, has just announced his engagement to psychologist Claire Kambamettu, 41; while Aoibheann has three children with husband Carlos Diaz.
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