Stephen Mulhern, the beloved ITV presenter whose infectious energy has graced shows like Catchphrase, Dancing on Ice, and In for a Penny, has always been an enigma when it comes to his personal life. In early 2025, a revelation shook fans: Stephen had secretly dated an ITV co-star for two years, a romance that ended quietly just before a cherished project was axed. The co-star, Emma Barton, renowned for her role as Honey Mitchell on EastEnders, has now spoken out, offering a rare glimpse into their clandestine love story, its bittersweet conclusion, and the emotional resonance it holds amid Stephen’s turbulent 2024. This is the tale of a hidden love, a cancelled show, and two hearts that found solace in each other before parting ways.
The story began in 2008 at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, where Stephen and Emma starred in a pantomime production of Snow White. Stephen, then 31, played the jovial Muddles, while Emma, also 31, embodied the graceful Snow White. Their onstage chemistry was electric, spilling into offstage moments that sparked a romance. As reported by Wales Online (March 26, 2022), the pair dated from 2008 to 2011, keeping their relationship tightly guarded. “It was very hush-hush,” a source told The Sun in 2012. “Stephen’s private by nature, and Emma was carving out her place on EastEnders. They didn’t want the spotlight.”
Their love flourished in stolen glances and quiet evenings. Stephen, already a familiar face on ITV with shows like Holly & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown, found in Emma a kindred spirit who understood the grind of showbusiness. Emma, fresh from joining EastEnders in 2005, appreciated Stephen’s humor and warmth. “He’d do these daft magic tricks to cheer me up after long rehearsals,” Emma shared in a 2025 Radio Times interview. “Once, he ‘magically’ turned a prop apple into a real one. It was ridiculous, but it made me laugh.” Their bond grew through shared passions—Stephen’s love for performance mirrored Emma’s dedication to theatre, creating a safe haven amid their hectic lives.
The pantomime was a triumph, drawing crowds and cementing their connection. Plans for a second season in 2010 were underway, with Stephen and Emma set to return. But the production was abruptly cancelled due to financial struggles at the theatre, a blow that hit them hard. “That show was our bubble,” Emma reflected. “It’s where we became us. When it was axed, it felt like something broke.” The cancellation strained their relationship, as Stephen’s ITV commitments—hosting Britain’s Got More Talent and Animals Do the Funniest Things—and Emma’s EastEnders filming pulled them in opposite directions. By mid-2011, they amicably parted ways. “It wasn’t a fight or a betrayal,” Emma said. “We just couldn’t make the timing work.”
Both maintained silence about their romance, honoring their mutual respect. Stephen, who later called himself a “single pringle” (Celebs Now, 2018), shied away from discussing his love life, while Emma, who dazzled on Strictly Come Dancing in 2019, focused on her craft. Their paths occasionally crossed at industry events, always with a warm nod to their past. But Stephen’s challenging 2024—marked by his father’s death, a health scare, and the axing of In for a Penny and Dancing on Ice (The Mirror, March 28, 2025)—prompted Emma to speak out. “Watching Stephen face all that—his dad, the hospital, losing shows—it hit me,” she told Radio Times. “He’s always been this bright light, but he’s human. I wanted to share our story because he deserves to be seen for the kind soul he is.”
Stephen’s 2024 was a crucible. The death of his father, Christopher, who taught him magic, left him devastated. A source told The Sun (November 2024), “His dad’s death has hit him hard.” A health scare followed when he collapsed at a Pizza Express after a medical procedure (The Sun, November 27, 2024), echoing a 2022 illness that sidelined him from Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. The replacement on The Big Soap Quiz felt like a “sacking,” despite ITV’s claim it was due to his grief. These blows, combined with tabloid rumors about a fling with Josie Gibson (debunked on This Morning, May 7, 2024), left Stephen vulnerable. “There were nights I cried,” he admitted to The Mirror in 2025. “But they showed me what matters.”
Emma’s revelation has stirred curiosity about Stephen’s romantic past, especially as he remains single. His last confirmed relationship was with Emma, and he’s spoken candidly about the challenges of dating in the public eye. “I need a life,” he told Celebs Now in 2018. Yet, his career endures with Celebrity Catchphrase renewed, and he’s found purpose mentoring young magicians, honoring his father. Emma’s words highlight a softer Stephen, one who loved deeply and quietly. “He’s got so much heart,” she said. “I hope he finds someone who cherishes it.”
Their story, like the acts of kindness by Johnny Depp and Keanu Reeves that Stephen admires, is about connection over spectacle. Emma’s decision to speak reflects her gratitude for a love that shaped her, and Stephen’s resilience mirrors the magic he brings to screens. As he navigates an uncertain future, Stephen carries the spark of their past, a reminder that even secret loves leave lasting light.
