Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock (15231167bt) Cat Deeley ‘This Morning’ TV show, London, UK – 31 Mar 2025

This Morning star Cat Deeley has opened up about the show’s Autism Assistance dog Buddy over a year after he made his daytime debut – and how he has helped her with her own personal grief. Buddy joined the team at This Morning last year after becoming Dogs for Autism’s newest recruit, appearing on the ITV sofa to raise awareness around the charity’s work.

To mark World Autism Awareness Day today, Cat and her fellow This Morning stars opened up about the impact Buddy has made in the studio, including how he has helped her process the d3ath of her own canine. “From the moment we met, it was love at first sight,” Cat told The Mirror.

Buddy has been a member of the This Morning family since last year

“Buddy is inquisitive, kind and playful, with just the tiniest bit of naughty. He took care of me when my dog, Lilly passed away and filled me with joy. They say animals ‘just know’ and he does.

“Whether you’re a child with special needs or a Hollywood A-lister, it’s impossible not to fall for Buddy’s charms. With Buddy’s trainer, Hilary and her unfailing encouragement and wonderful expertise, he will become a loving family member to a household who need him most.”

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Meanwhile, Ben Shephard added that he looks forward to Buddy co-hosting the show. “We are so similar. When Cat wants us to do something, she bribes us both with treats! Although Buddy is much better than me at sitting still,” he said.

“Watching him grow from an adorable puppy to learning to be an invaluable Autism Assistance dog has been so special. We’re all so excited to watch the rest of his journey, it will be a very proud day when eventually he passes his training. Until then we’ll both continue to enjoy treats and belly rubs in equal measure!”

Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley have gushed about This Morning’s Autism Assistance dog Buddy

Over the last year, Buddy has met a number of celebrities while appearing on the This Morning sofa, from befriending Sir Ian McKellen to cuddling Ant and Dec. As one of This Morning’s Puppies with a Purpose, Buddy has been training to become an Autism Assistance dog and will be moving on to find his “fur-ever home” soon thanks to charity Dogs for Autism.

This Morning’s resident vet Scott Miller recently opened up to The Mirror about his own experience with how dogs can help those with autism – having revealed that he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 47. “Initially my life was thrown up in the air and came crashing down but after a while, it was a good filter to be able to look back and forgive the child that struggled socially,” he said.

“It explains a lot of mistakes that I may have made with regards to social situations and reading between the lines – that’s not my specialist subject.”