Presenting primetime live television on both sides of the Atlantic? Going from unknown to Emmy-nominated in the US? Yep, Cat Deeley knows a little about making a success of the challenges that life and career can throw your way…
When it comes to handling pressure at work, there’s nothing like presenting live television to put your nerves to the test. And with over two decades of experience hosting primetime shows in the UK and the US – with audiences in their millions – there’s little that fazes Cat Deeley anymore.
Of course, developing her unflappable professional nature took practice. After cutting her teeth on MTV in the 90s, Cat co-hosted SM:TV Live for four years, winning a BAFTA in the process. “Doing SM:TV gave me flying hours: by the time I finished on the show I felt a certain level of confidence,” she says.
Navigating a pivotal career move to the US in 2006 took a different sort of self-belief. “It’s so difficult to know when a project is right for you. It was hard moving to LA, not necessarily because of work; it was all the other things – finding somewhere to live, driving on the other side of the road. It meant I didn't have time to overthink work and worry too much about being ‘a success’.”
After presenting 16 seasons of the US version of So You Think You Can Dance (which has remained a commercial hit in a competitive TV landscape) and earning five Primetime Emmy nominations for her work, this year Cat moved back to the UK with her husband, presenter Patrick Kielty, and their two sons.
Production for the next season of the show is on hold due to the pandemic and Cat has used the downtime to write a children’s book. She is philosophical about the future of the show: “I don't know if this is going to be the end or not – it will depend on how TV works going forward.”
But if anyone can cope with a career curveball, it’s Cat: when your job depends on keeping cool no matter what comes your way, you learn a thing or two about dealing with the unexpected. Whether you’re facing a big presentation, or a major career decision, here’s her top advice for holding your nerve.
Prepare Everything. Then Let It All Go
To get good at live TV, you have to become a swan. You’re all graceful on top but underneath you’re paddling like mad. You’re making sure you’re in the right place at the right time, hitting the right light, saying the right things, and your guest is doing the right thing too. And then it’s all got to look effortless.
When it comes to coping with pressure, the best advice I can possibly give to anyone is preparation. Prep, prep, prep. Know what you’re doing inside out, back to front, upside down. So if the roof caved in you could still do it.
And then the knack is letting it all go: forget everything. Then you’re just in the moment with the other person and you’re listening to them and you’re right in it. Because the right thing will come to you at the right time if you’re truly in the moment.
But if you don’t do the prep, then you’ll be thinking, ‘Ooh should I be sitting here or there?’ Or, ‘What was that figure again??’ You can't do that. You've got to prep it, in order to let it go. It sounds a bit Yoda-ish doesn't it?! But you can't wing it. I’ve never done something and winged it and it’s gone well. Ever.
Mistakes Are Still Inevitable – But You Won’t Crumble
Everything that could ever happen to a presenter on live TV, has at some stage happened to me. I got my first migraine on TV, I slipped on a chip and fell over on TV, I’ve dropped a microphone, I’ve had Slash spout obscenities. But I’ve lived to tell the tale.
In those moments – where everything goes wrong – if you handle it with a little bit of self-deprecation and a sense of humour, it’s quite amazing. The floor doesn’t open up and it doesn’t swallow you whole. You don’t disappear into the abyss.
You actually just pick yourself up, you dust yourself off, you make a joke about it and you get on with it.
A Little Bit Of Fear Gives You An Edge
When I first moved to Los Angeles, I treated it all as a big adventure. I wanted something new and fresh and different but I never set off to ‘crack’ America. I certainly never thought I’d be there for 15 years.
I think if you focus on the enormity of something, it can breed this inertia, because you get overwhelmed. But I think there’s something very healthy about being a little bit scared. It gives you an edge.
The moment you get used to doing the same old thing, you lose that edge. So if you can push yourself to do something a little bit different – and that's what I definitely did – it can be really good for you.
Remember, Not All Surprises Are Bad Ones
A very wise friend once told me: when luck comes along, be ready to grab it with both hands and turn it into opportunity.
It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, there are some opportunities that are so good, you have to be ready to say ‘yes’ in that split second. You can’t have a wobbly moment – you’ve got to be ready to take it.
Want to hear more from Cat Deeley? Watch her AllBright Academy course on How To Curate Your Career here
Cat Deeley’s new book, The Joy In You is out now