Patrick Kielty fights tears on TV comeback after Cat Deeley split as he issues message

Patrick Kielty has returned to television for the first time since his split from wife Cat Deeley was announced in July. The couple had revealed in a joint statement that they had decided to end their marriage and no third party was involved.

The presenter, 54, hasn’t been on tv since his last Late Late Show of his second season on Friday, May 9. However, he returned for the third series of his show and took the opportunity to thank his fans for the support they’ve shown him over the Summer.

He opened the show by saying: “We're back with a brand new season, a shiny new studio audience. To be honest, some are slightly shinier than others, we're not gonna lie. Sadly the same old host. There we go."

Getting choked up, he continued: “But honestly, it is so nice to be back with you, especially after this summer, where I've genuinely been blown away by all the love and support that you guys have sent my way.

"One of the greatest joys of hosting this show is that you're never alone. And so to all of you who have been so kind to me and my family this past few months, can I just say a huge go raibh maith agat," which translates to thank you.

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He continued: “It's one of the many reasons why walking out here is always a privilege, why being back here with you tonight truly puts flesh on my bones, and why it never gets old to say these words. Welcome to the Late Late Show.”

Fans flocked to Instagram to commend the host for coming back to work and sent them his well wishes. One person wrote on Instagram: “Lovely opening @patrickkielty… I’d hoped you would refer to your Summer and you did is so nicely. Bravely too. Sending you lots of love from a viewer.”

Another social media user penned: “Ah, you’re brilliant Paddy. Keep the head up. You are amazing and we all support you. You’ve had a tough year of it but things will get better overtime. Remember who you are.”

A third expressed: “Ah, he’s a lovely man. So open and honest. And the little tuck in his voice. I wish him and his family the very best.”

While a fourth added: “Authenticity is so underrated in our world of fast media. Paddy is unique in this regard. Breath of fresh air. Keep being lovely you Paddy.”

The TV favourites shocked fans with their split announcement after more than a decade of marriage. The couple met while hosting BBC's Fame Academy together in 2002, but only made their first public appearance as an item nine years later in 2011.

They got married a year later in September 2012 at a ceremony in Rome and have two children together.

Cat and Patrick said in a joint statement to the PA news agency: “We have taken the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. There is no other party involved.

“We will continue to be united as loving parents to our children and would therefore kindly ask for our family privacy to be respected. There will be no further comment.”

Cat also took the Summer off from her This Morning hosting duties and returned to the iconic sofa in September with co-host Ben Shephard. However, she failed to mention her split from Patrick and instead described her Summer as "really fabulous" with "lots of sea chats, family, friends, kids, ice creams as big as your head".