Cat Deeley

About Cat Deeley

Catherine Elizabeth "Cat" Deeley (born 23 October 1976) is an English disc jockey, television presenter and former fashion model, who rose to fame at the age of 21, co-hosting the well-known children's series SMTV Live, alongside Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, for also hosting Stars in their Eyes since 2004, and for hosting So You Think You Can Dance since its second series in 2006.

The elder of two children, born in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, Great Britain, United Kingdom, Deeley attended Grove Vale Infant School in Great Barr, Birmingham, followed by Dartmouth High School, where she played the clarinet in the Sandwell Youth Concert Band. She continued her education at Bishop Vesey's Grammar School's Sixth Form. After achieving nine A grade GCSEs and four A-levels at school, Deeley became a full time fashion model. Prior to this, she entered a regional BBC competition called The Clothes Show, where she made it through to the finals. She was spotted by an agent, and Deeley signed with the Storm modelling agency, where Kate Moss was also on the roster. She shortened her first name to Cat because there were several other Storm models named Catherine.

Her first television appearance was in 1994 as a model on the daytime programme Kilroy.