Stephen Mulhern, the well-known host of shows like Catchphrase and Deal Or No Deal, moved viewers to tears as he opened up about the recent death of his father on his new ITV series, Accidental Tourist with Ant and Dec.
The 48-year-old presenter returned to television with this heartfelt documentary-style show, which challenges him by sending him on adventures around the world. His first destination was Korea, revealed by Ant and Dec during the show’s opening.
During the announcement, Stephen grew visibly emotional, sharing that he hoped his late father, Christopher Mulhern, would be proud of him. Christopher, who passed away in November 2024 at the age of 76, was very close to Stephen, making the loss especially difficult.
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The grief was compounded by a recent health scare, where Stephen collapsed in a Pizza Express due to a negative reaction to an anaesthetic combined with alcohol. This incident led him to take a break from work, during which Sally Lindsay stepped in to cover his role on ITV’s The Big Soap Quiz.
On the show, Stephen expressed the daunting challenge of facing this trip without his dad, calling it “the most worrying thing” he’s ever attempted. Overcome with emotion, he apologized to the camera crew as tears filled his eyes, saying, “He wouldn’t believe it but I hope he’d be proud.”
Further touching hearts, Stephen read aloud a letter from his mother prepared for him to open upon arriving in Korea. The letter reminded him of his lifelong love for magic and assured him that both his mother and late father would be with him in spirit every step of the way.
Viewers quickly took to social media to express their empathy, sharing their heartbreak and support as they watched the emotional moment unfold on screen.