There was talk of him replacing Ant McPartlin on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here last year, while he went to rehab.

But Stephen Mulhern admits it’s not something he could have done – partly because he’s a man.

‘You couldn’t have gone with another guy. It had to be a female host. It was the best possible choice,’ he told The Sun.

'It couldn't be a guy!' Stephen Mulhern has said that his gender was the reason he didn't replace Ant McPartlin on I'm A Celeb 2018 (making way for Holly Willoughby to step in instead)
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‘It couldn’t be a guy!’ Stephen Mulhern has said that his gender was the reason he didn’t replace Ant McPartlin on I’m A Celeb 2018 (making way for Holly Willoughby to step in instead)

The job went to Holly Willoughby in the end, who worked alongside Ant’s long-running presenting partner Declan Donnely.

‘Holly was perfect. Holly and Dec worked a treat,’ Stephen added.

Bookies at the time believed Holly or Stephen would definitely be the producers’ first choices for Ant’s stand-in, being regulars on ITV.

Stephen notably works alongside Ant and Dec on their shows Saturday Night Takeaway and Britian’s Got Talent.

Reasoning: 'You couldn¿t have gone with another guy. It had to be a female host. It was the best possible choice,' Stephen said
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Reasoning: ‘You couldn’t have gone with another guy. It had to be a female host. It was the best possible choice,’ Stephen said

Jungle Jane: However Stephen was quick to respond: 'No and I¿ll tell you why ¿ listen, they are such good friends, well they¿re my bosses now. I could never have done as good a job as Holly did and Ant does'
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Jungle Jane: The job went to Holly Willoughby in the end

The family are back together: Ant is back on BGT and will be back to the jungle this November for I'm A Celeb 2019. Saturday Night Takeaway will return in 2020
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The family are back together: Ant is back on BGT and will be back to the jungle this November for I’m A Celeb 2019. Saturday Night Takeaway will return in 2020

Last year, when Ant first experienced troubles in his personal life – including painkiller addiction and a messy divorce – Stephen took more responsibility on for Saturday Night Takeaway, with Ant having to sit out the last episodes of the season.

‘When we were in Florida for Takeaway last year there was talk about me doing a lot more stuff on the show. But you can’t replace Ant. I’m not going to step into a friend’s shoes. I couldn’t do as well as him and I’m just pleased he’s back,’ Stephen said.

Indeed, Ant is back on BGT and will be back to the jungle this November for I’m A Celeb 2019. Saturday Night Takeaway will return in 2020.

Last year: When Ant first experienced troubles in his personal life - including painkiller addiction and a messy divorce - he had to sit out of his work commitments
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Last year: When Ant first experienced troubles in his personal life – including painkiller addiction and a messy divorce – he had to sit out of his work commitments

Declan Donnelly jokes about his daughter Isla

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Too long: Dec made a joke about the growing height of his daughter Isla in an episode of Britain's Got More Talent with Stephen this weekend
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Too long: Dec made a joke about the growing height of his daughter Isla in an episode of Britain’s Got More Talent with Stephen this weekend

Britain’s Got More Talent release their new star-studded trailer

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All three men appeared on Stephen’s BGT sister show, Britain’s Got More Talent, on Saturday night, as it returned for a new season.

In one of the segments, Dec made a light-hearted joke about the growing height of his daughter Isla, who is a few months old.

The 5ft 6in presenter told Stephen and Ant that his daughter is already ‘too long’ before jokingly adding: ‘I’m not sure she’s mine.’

After an amusing conversation on the height of Dec’s baby Stephen added: ‘He wants a paternity test but Ali’s not really up for it.’

Behind the scenes: The 5ft 6in presenter told the presenter and best friend Ant that his daughter is already 'too long'
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Behind the scenes: The 5ft 6in presenter told the presenter and best friend Ant that his daughter is already ‘too long’

Ant and Dec win Best Presenter for the eighteenth time at the NTAs

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Funny men: The Newcastle-born presenter said his daughter probably took after her mum Ali Alstall
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Funny men: The Newcastle-born presenter said his daughter probably took after her mum Ali Alstall

Dec and wife Ali Astall, 40, who got engaged in November 2014, welcomed daughter Isla in September 2018 and have since taken to parenthood like ducks to water.

Britain’s Got Talent returned to our screens on Saturday night with yet another action packed audition round that left audience members laughing, crying and screaming from their seats.

It marked Ant’s return to TV a year on since he was arrested for drink driving in April 2018.

The presenter, who was fined £86,000 and given a 20-month driving ban.