Dermot O'Leary has been in a happy and successful relationship with his wife, Dee Koppang for years – but the pair unfortunately faced a ‘rocky road' when trying to start a family
Dermot's face is well known as he's become a TV staple in many homes(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Dermot O'Leary is back on our screens once again presenting The Morning alongside Alison Hammond – who sadly broke down in tears as she addressed the latest news about her former co-star Phillip Schofield.
At the start of the week, Alison and Dermot were forced to acknowledge the claims of “toxicity” on the daytime show, with Dermot stating: “We know we have been in the news at the moment. But just from both of us, and the whole team here, the crew, the guys downstairs, we love making this show for all of you.”
Aside from This Morning, the 50-year-old Essex-born TV star has become a fixture on our screens, working on Britain's Got Talent, The X Factor, and Big Brother's Little Brother.
But while many people up and down the country will instantly recognise his face, they might not be able to do the same for his wife – despite her having her own successful television career.
That's because the 44-year-old prefers to work behind the camera, instead of in front of it like her husband does.
Dermot and Alison have been hosting This Morning(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Dermot is married to Dee Koppang, a film and television producer, and director from Oslo, Norway.
Dee has worked on a number of iconic shows over the years including Netflix's The Crown and Bridgerton. She's also previously worked on Big Brother and T4 on the Beach as well.
The pair first met when they were both working for the same TV production company and were in a relationship for nine years before Dermot finally got down on one knee.
He popped the question during a trip to New York in 2011.
News of their engagement was kept relatively secret until Dermot's pal Caroline Flack couldn't help but spill the beans during a live recording of the Xtra Factor in 2011.
The late star quizzed him on why it had taken so long for him to propose, to which he replied: “Well, you don't rush into these things.”
The pair tied the knot a year later at St Mary's Church in Chiddingstone in September 2012 and they kept to a strict, small guestlist for the occasion.
A few famous friends were in attendance, including Holly Willoughby, Kieth Lemon, and James Corden.
Dermot and Dee have been married since 2012(Image: Beretta/Sims/REX/Shutterstock)
They initially kept their engagement quite quiet(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix)
The couple has now been married for almost 11 years and Dermot has previously shared his ‘secret' for his happy and ‘successful' partnership.
During a Q&A with fans, he said that it's all about ‘slack and compromise'.
“No marriage is perfect. From the start we gave each other a lot of slack and compromised,” he explained.
“This person's your best friend. Try not to give them a hard time.
“It's down to letting someone still have an active life individually. It's about being there when you need to be there.”
The pair have a son, named Kasper(Image: INSTAGRAM)
The couple had a ‘rocky road' when trying to start a family(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
In June 2020, Dermot and Dee welcomed a baby boy, named Kasper Koppang O'Leary into the world amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Dermot told The Sun that during lockdown the family had been kept in a ‘newborn baby bubble' and it had been a ‘special time' as he'd been able to be at home with his son, due to work being cancelled.
He shared how he'd really taken to parenting, even enjoying changing nappies.
“It's all been great,” he said at the time. “When your friends tell you about all the nappy changes or waking up in the middle of the night, you think, ‘Oooh, that sounds hard', but when it's your own, none of that matters at all. You just go: ‘Heeey, it's you! I like you! Let's go and change your nappy! I'm really enjoying it, it's been wonderful.”
The dad went on to reveal that they wanted to pick the child's name until he was born, as they wanted to see what he would look like first.
But the road to becoming a parent wasn't easy for the O'Learys, as Dermot admits it was a ‘rocky' one.
They knew they wanted to start a family shortly after getting married, but they struggled and have since encouraged others in a similar situation not to “lose hope.”
The dad went on to say that one day Dee will share their journey to parenthood, but not until she is ready and the time is right.
For now, the couple is just enjoying time with their son and their two beloved cats, Socks and Toto.