Stephen Mulhern

Stephen Daniel Mulhern (born 4 April 1977) is an English television presenter, entertainer, magician and comedian.

He began his career at CITV presenting the children’s television shows '' Finger Tips'' (2001–2004) and '' Tricky TV'' (2005–2010). Mulhern went on to present various television shows for ITV, including '' Britain's Got More Talent'' (2007–2019), ''Animals Do the Funniest Things'' (2007–2011), ''This Morning's Hub'' (2011–2014), ''Catchphrase'' (2013–2025), '' Big Star's Little Star'' (2013–2018), '' In for a Penny'' (2019–2024), '' Rolling In It'' (2020–2021), '' Deal or No Deal'' (2023–present) and '' Dancing on Ice'' (2024–2025).

Early life and education

Stephen Daniel Mulhern was born on 4 April 1977 in Stratford, London. His parents, Maureen and Christopher, were market traders. He attended St Bonaventure's in Forest Gate, east London.

Career

Magic

Mulhern gained his interest in comedy and magic from his father, who taught him tricks when he was young. He began public magic performances when he was 11 years old. He used to perform at Butlin's Minehead during family holidays, and was a Redcoat for two years. He became the youngest member of The Magic Circle, which brought about an appearance on '' Blue Peter'' in a piece about Harry Houdini. Mulhern was later suspended from The Magic Circle for revealing a magic trick on the children's television programme '' Finger Tips''. The suspension was eventually lifted.After leaving school, he created a magic show under the title ''Stephen's Mega Mad Magic Show''. Turned down at age 18 by Michael Barrymore for '' My Kind of People'', he won another television talent show called ''The Big Big Talent Show'' which was hosted by Jonathan Ross, and as a result, in 1997 was invited to take part in the Royal Variety Performance at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

Mulhern has appeared on the Disney Channel and then on CITV alongside Holly Willoughby on ''Saturday Showdown''. His television credits since have included '' The Quick Trick Show'' and more recently '' Tricky TV''. In 2005, Mulhern created and presented the Channel 4 magic show ''Freaky''. In 2006, he performed a magic routine in an episode of '' The Slammer'' and came in second place. The dance group Flawless, who went on to perform on '' Britain's Got Talent'' (a spin-off show which Mulhern presents), came first. Mulhern's 2010 entertainment show '' Magic Numbers'' featured magic and illusions during the phone-in process.

Radio

On 5 August 2012, Mulhern became co-presenter of Sunday breakfast from 9am to 12 midday with Emma Willis across the Heart Network. The duo occasionally present the Heart London Breakfast show when regular hosts, Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden are away.Stephen Mulhern and Emma Willis
Heart

In 2021, Mulhern began presenting shows on Virgin Radio UK. He covered Graham Norton in the weekend morning 9.30am to 12.30pm slot in August and also presented a week of the ''Chris Evans Breakfast Show'' in December. Mulhern returned to Virgin to host another week of the ''Chris Evans Breakfast Show'' in April 2022.

Television

Mulhern began presenting on CITV in 1998. He co-hosted four series of '' Finger Tips'' with Fearne Cotton from 2001 until 2003 and with Naomi Wilkinson in 2004. He presented children's show '' Tricky TV'' from 2005 to 2010. He also co-hosted '' Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown'' (originally called '' Ministry of Mayhem'') with Holly Willoughby from 2004 to 2006.

From 2006 to 2007, Mulhern hosted the ITV2 spin-off '' Dancing on Ice: Defrosted'', while Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby hosted the main show.

From 2007 to 2019, Mulhern hosted ITV2 spin-off '' Britain's Got More Talent'', which aired immediately after the main ITV show, which is hosted by Ant & Dec. Since 2013, Mulhern has become associated with the word 'unbelievable' which slowly became his catchphrase, usually used on ''Britain's Got More Talent'' as he walks offscreen at the end of a section, with Ant & Dec often mimicking him, and is also known for saying "Doosh!"

From 2009 to 2011, Mulhern narrated the ITV entertainment show ''Animals Do the Funniest Things''.

Mulhern regularly presented inside 'The Hub', a small segment on the ITV daytime show '' This Morning''. He most recently hosted the segment on Thursday and Friday mornings although had previously hosted on Wednesdays and Thursdays until the departure of Matt Johnson in the summer of 2013. Mulhern has occasionally presented the main show, standing in for the regular presenters.

In 2010, he hosted primetime game show '' Magic Numbers'' on ITV. Mulhern has hosted numerous episodes of '' The Big Quiz''.

Since April 2013, Mulhern has presented a revived version of ITV game show ''Catchphrase''. In September 2013, Mulhern began presenting ITV's '' Big Star's Little Star'', a show which sees celebrities and their children compete to win up to £15,000 for charity.

On 27 October 2013, Mulhern began hosting a live Sunday morning show called '' Sunday Side Up'' on ITV. On 21 December 2013, Mulhern hosted entertainment special ''The Illusionists'' on ITV. On 14 September 2014, Mulhern guest hosted an episode of ''Sunday Night at the Palladium''.

In early 2015, Mulhern presented the primetime ITV reality series '' Get Your Act Together''. On 5 February 2015, he began presenting ITV2 panel show '' Reality Bites'' . In 2015, he presented ''The Magic Show Story'' a one-off special for ITV and ''The Saturday Night Story'', a two-part series focusing on Saturday night television. In 2015, Mulhern presented '' Pick Me!'', a daytime game show for ITV as well as ITV's annual charity telethon ''Text Santa''. In March 2015, Mulhern became a victim of the Ant & Dec Undercover segment on '' Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway''.

In February 2016, Mulhern became the presenter of the 'Ant vs Dec' segment on ''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' after replacing Ashley Roberts. In 2016, Mulhern presented '' Go for It'', and co-hosted ''The Next Great Magician'' alongside Rochelle Humes for ITV. On 12 April 2018, it was announced that Mulhern would host '' The National Lottery Draws'' on ITV.

In 2019, Mulhern presented '' In For A Penny'', which is based on a segment he presents on ''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' of the same name.

In August 2020, Mulhern began presenting a new game show on ITV, '' Rolling In It'', featuring both contestants and celebrities. In February 2022, Mulhern guest presented '' Dancing on Ice'' alongside Willoughby whilst Phillip Schofield self-isolated from COVID-19. In January 2023 it was reported that a reboot of the show '' Deal or No Deal'' would be hosted by Mulhern airing from 20 November 2023. In December 2023, Mulhern was announced as the replacement co-host of ''Dancing on Ice'', succeeding Schofield who resigned from ITV earlier in the year.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67832517 Mulhern co-hosted ''Dancing on Ice'' from Series 16 in January 2024 to its cancellation at the end of Series 17 in March 2025.

Stage

Mulhern has an annual headline show at all three Butlin's holiday resorts, performing every summer and selected school holiday breaks. He is also the resorts' flagship celebrity, promoting the resort in many television adverts and there's a statue of him at the Minehead resort, where he was once a redcoat.

Filmography

Television

Radio

References

External links

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Official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mulhern, Stephen
1977 births
Living people
Butlins Redcoats
Comedians from the London Borough of Newham
English game show hosts
English magicians
English male musical theatre actors
English people of Irish descent
English children's television presenters
Heart (radio network) presenters
People educated at St Bonaventure's Catholic School
People from Minehead
People from Stratford, London
Television personalities from the London Borough of Newham