Stephen’s currently on air with Celebrity Catchphrase – where he’s now overtaken show legend Roy walker

STEPHEN MULHERN wants to kick off a new era of his career, dropping his “Mr Beige” tag to become the new Bruce Forsyth.

And it is all because sidekick Holly Willoughby ditched him for Netflix.

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Stephen Mulhern reveals why he won’t miss co-host Holly WilloughbyCredit: ITV

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Willoughby quit You Bet and Dancing On Ice has been axed, pictured with StephenCredit: Rex
The duo lost Dancing On Ice when it was shelved by ITV earlier this year and Holly has also stepped back from co-hosting gameshow You Bet! with him.

But Stephen remains busier than ever with Celebrity Catchphrase and three new shows in the works.

Chatting to TV Biz, he said: “I’m gutted she’s not doing You Bet! with me, but I’ve had time to think about it and Bruce Forsyth was the first person to do You Bet! and he did it on his own.

“Matthew Kelly made it the best show on the telly.

“And every time I’ve been interviewed and they say, ‘What show would you bring back?’, I’ve always said ‘You Bet!’.

“So maybe it happened for a reason. We’ve filmed one episode already without Holly, and it felt very comfortable. Maybe it is just a one-presenter show.

‘I cried a lot’

“I don’t know what happened. She just said, ‘Look, sorry, I can’t do it’. She told me face to face. She said, ‘Look, I’m gutted but it’s all over’.”

Stephen has become an ITV stalwart through his work with Holly, Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly.

But now he is forging his own path.

So much so that, chatting to my reporter Felicity on the Catchphrase set, the former magician revealed he has an idea for a show — and is coughing up his own cash to pay for it.

Stephen said: “It’s very hard to pitch stuff on paper, you’ve got to show people so I’m just going to invest my own money into it then pitch it.

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“I want to do a bit of magic, a bit of wind-up, practical jokes . . . the key is for the family to sit down and enjoy it.”

And now Stephen is ready to finally let viewers see the real him after agreeing to film an ITV travelogue with Ant & Dec along the lines of An Idiot Abroad, called The Accidental Tourist.

Stephen said: “Emma WIllis called me Fifty Shades Of Beige because all my food is beige.

“I don’t travel a lot, I always go to Florida — the food’s safe.

“But the idea is I step out of my comfort zone. I was doing stuff that I’d never do.

“When people see it they’ll see a completely different side. It’s stripped down. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh Stephen, he’s so nice’, but on this I think you’re going to see it.

“People have seen me on TV for nearly 25 years and they go, ‘What’s he like at home? Is he going out with someone?’”

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Stephen is the face of CatchphraseCredit: ITV
Being exposed in that way was a lot for Stephen.

He added: “You’ll see a lot of emotion, 100 per cent. You’ll see me totally out of my comfort zone.

“I remember sitting on the bed, and I was like, ‘Was this the right choice? Was it the right decision?’.

“They film and film and film. I’ve never done that. No one’s ever seen me cry but I cried a lot.”

For now, Stephen is back in his comfort zone, filming a fresh series of Celebrity Catchphrase.

Michelle Visage, Melanie Blatt and Seann Walsh are some of the celebs appearing on the current run, which continues this Sunday at 6.55pm on ITV and STV.

And Stephen has now filmed more episodes than show legend Roy Walker.

He said: “I used to watch Catchphrase growing up. I love it because of the gameplay of it. You can never call it.

“The secret to success now is proper family entertainment.

“If you can’t sum up the show in a sentence, it will never work. Play Your Cards Right, higher or lower. You Bet!, will they do it, will they not?

“Catchphrase, say what you see. Deal Or No deal, pick the right box.”

So what is the secret to his own success?

“Because I’m not the rebel! You hear of certain performers or presenters and they go, ‘They’re bang out of order’. And you go, ‘Well, they’re not working now. . .’”

Never change, Mr Beige.

Celebrity Catchphrase is on at 6.55pm this Sunday on ITV and STV, then available on ITVX and STV Player.

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Bruce Forsyth originally hosted You Bet!Credit: PA:Press Association

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Presenter Stephen with The Sun’s Felicity Cross

Sister act two for Ella

ELLA BRUCCOLERI was the unassuming Sister Frances in Call The Midwife, and her latest role is set to be every bit as understated.

I can reveal that the actress, who left the period hospital drama in 2022, has been cast as Mary Bennet in BBC One’s The Other Bennet Sister.

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Ella Bruccoleri, left, has been cast as Mary Bennet in BBC One’s The Other Bennet SisterCredit: BBC
Mary is the seemingly unremarkable middle sibling in Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice, and the story sees her stepping out of her sisters’ shadows to find her own epic love story.

The ten-parter, which starts filming soon, is based on Janice Hadlow’s bestselling novel of the same name.

Ella, who says she can “relate” to Mary, described writer Sarah Quintrell’s scripts as warm and humorous.

She added: “They reveal that beneath Mary’s awkwardness and formality lies a woman longing for purpose and connection.”

ART OF ENTERTAINMENT

HARRY Hill, Romesh Ranganathan, and the Kwapong Family will host a new BBC children’s art show.

Go Get Arty features How To segments and celeb drawalongs.

Harry, who voices paintbrush Bristles, said: “Go Get Arty is silly, smart and properly creative – a bit like me!”

‘Ender line for Bernie

EASTENDERS favourite Clair Norris has been axed after eight years on the soap, bringing an end to one of the show’s favourite families.

Clair’s character Bernie Taylor made her debut in 2017 alongside onscreen mum Karen (Lorraine Stanley) and brother Keanu (Danny Walters), who became a victim of The Six in 2023.

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EastEnders favourite Clair Norris has been axed after eight years on the soapCredit: BBC
It comes three months after executive producer Chris Clenshaw was replaced by Ben Wadey.

A source said: “When a soap gets a new boss they want to make their own mark, it’s nothing personal.

“She was the last Taylor standing and it’s time to close the chapter on them.”

I’m sure the imminent return of Jake Wood as Max Branning after four years away will bring more drama.