Stephen Mulhern, the effervescent presenter who has lit up British screens for over two decades, faced a tumultuous chapter in late 2024 that left fans reeling and sparked widespread speculation. Known for his boundless energy on ITV staples like Catchphrase, Dancing on Ice, and Deal or No Deal, Stephen’s sudden replacement on The Big Soap Quiz: Coronation Street vs. Emmerdale in November 2024, coupled with a health scare and whispers about his love life, painted a picture of a man grappling with profound personal and professional challenges. In breaking his silence, Stephen revealed a story of heartbreak—not just in romance but in the loss of his father, the sting of perceived betrayal, and the resilience that carried him through.
The catalyst for Stephen’s departure from The Big Soap Quiz was the death of his father, Christopher Mulhern, a market trader who introduced him to magic at age 11. The loss, compounded by the recent death of his grandfather, hit Stephen hard. A source close to him told The Sun, “He’s only human, and his dad’s death has hit him hard.” ITV cited his bereavement as the reason for his exit, with Coronation Street actress Sally Lindsay stepping in to host. However, industry murmurs suggested Stephen felt “sacked,” a sentiment that cut deep for a presenter who had long been a reliable face for ITV. The decision, while framed as compassionate, left Stephen questioning his place at the network, especially as Dancing on Ice faced cancellation after its 2025 series due to dwindling viewership, with one episode drawing just 2.4 million viewers.
Stephen’s heartbreak extended beyond professional woes. His love life, a topic he’s kept fiercely private, became fodder for tabloids after he was spotted holding hands with This Morning star Josie Gibson during Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway filming in April 2024. Josie, 38, jokingly told Mail Online, “I’m in love with Stephen Mulhern. There you go. But story of my life, I don’t think he loves me.” She later clarified on This Morning that their hand-holding was platonic, with Stephen adding, “She didn’t turn up to rehearsals, and I held her hand and showed her where to stand. That is it.” Despite their denials, the rumors stung, as Stephen, who hasn’t dated publicly since his three-year relationship with EastEnders actress Emma Barton ended in 2011, admitted to feeling like a “single pringle.” In a 2018 Celebs Now interview, he confessed, “Last time I went on a date was about four years ago. That makes me sound really sad!” His romantic solitude, coupled with media scrutiny, added to his emotional burden.
The truth behind Stephen’s departure was further complicated by a health scare that same week. On November 27, 2024, he collapsed at a Pizza Express in Sunningdale, Berkshire, after a medical procedure involving local anaesthetic. The Sun reported, “He took himself off for a quiet, solo dinner, had a few drinks and just reacted incredibly badly.” Paramedics rushed him to Frimley Park Hospital, and though he recovered, the incident amplified his vulnerability. This wasn’t his first health struggle; in 2022, a mystery illness forced him off Saturday Night Takeaway for weeks, requiring a hospital procedure. He told fans then, “I’ve had some time off and been resting up on doctors’ orders. I’m on the mend.” The 2024 collapse, however, coming so soon after his father’s death, felt like a breaking point.
In early 2025, Stephen broke his silence, reflecting on the confluence of events that brought him to tears. Speaking to The Mirror, he said, “I won’t lie, there were nights I cried—losing Dad, feeling like I’d let people down at work, wondering if I’d pushed myself too hard. But those tears weren’t just sadness. They were about realizing what matters.” He leaned on close friends like Holly Willoughby, his Dancing on Ice co-host, and Ant and Dec, whom he described to OK! Magazine as people he could “call to talk about anything.” His family—mother Maureen and siblings Christopher, Vinny, and Susie—also rallied around him, reinforcing the tight-knit bond he credited to his parents’ hard work.
The professional blow was softened by ITV’s renewal of Celebrity Catchphrase and his return to You Bet! alongside Holly Willoughby, though Holly stepped back from the second series due to scheduling conflicts. Stephen’s resilience shone through as he threw himself into work, his “unbelievable” catchphrase a reminder of his ability to find joy amid pain. He also honored his father by mentoring young magicians at community centers, saying, “Dad gave me this gift. It’s my turn to pass it on.”
The unexpected truth behind Stephen’s heartbreak was not just the loss of his father or the sting of ITV’s decision, but the clarity it brought. His tears revealed a man who, despite fame, felt the weight of being human. “Life after all this,” he told The Mirror, “is about showing up, even when it hurts.” Like Johnny Depp and Keanu Reeves, whose acts of kindness inspired him, Stephen used his platform to spread light, proving that heartbreak, though heavy, could forge a path to renewal. As he prepared for new projects, Stephen carried his father’s magic and a heart mended by purpose, ready to face whatever came next.
