He is one of ITV’s top favourite presenters, fronting Deal Or No Deal, co-hosting Dancing On Ice and appearing alongside Ant and Dec on the iconic Saturday Night Takeaway.
However off screen Stephen Mulhern has experienced a tumultuous year filled with mystery health scares, property issues and the tragic passing of his father.
Earlier this week the TV star, 47, was rushed to hospital after he collapsed while eating at a Pizza Express following a medical procedure he had earlier in the day.
After paramedics helped Stephen, he was put on the phone to his mother to assure her that he was OK.
Meanwhile he has also been mourning the death of his father Christopher which has ‘hit him hard’ and been ‘very stressful’.
And as Stephen recovers from this week’s health scare we take a look back at the star’s year from hell.
Inside Stephen Mulhern’s year from hell: From health battles and mystery medical procedure to beloved fathers death as TV host is rushed to hospital after collapsing at Pizza Express
Stephen has also been mourning the death of his father Christopher which has ‘hit him hard’ and been ‘very stressful’
Health Woes
Stephen first sparked concern after he pulled out of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway back in April after he was struck down with illness.
He reportedly told producers on the Saturday morning of filming that he was not up for doing the show that evening as he was feeling under the weather.
While he was absent from the show, the nature of his illness wasn’t revealed but a source close to Stephen told The Sun on Sunday: ‘Stephen was due to be on a small section of the show, but sadly he was feeling a bit too poorly to perform.
‘When he realised he would be too under the weather to show up he called first thing on Saturday morning to let the team know.
‘They were able to rejig the format and make it work without him.’
A representative for Stephen told at the time: ‘Stephen was due to be involved in one of the sketches in tonight’s show but sadly he was unable to take part due to him feeling unwell. He’s looking forward to being back for the final next weekend.’
Back in 2022 Stephen was absent from television for a few weeks after he underwent a hospital procedure and was told to rest under doctor’s orders.
Addressing his fans at the time he tweeted: ‘Hello all, Sorry I’ve been quiet on here recently and thank you for all your lovely messages. I’ve had some time off and been resting up on doctors orders.
Stephen first sparked concern after he pulled out of Ant & Dec ’s Saturday Night Takeaway back in April after he was struck down with illness
His most recent hospital scare on Wednesday resulted in an ambulance being called after staff at Pizza Express became concerned for him at around 8pm
‘I’m on the mend, I’m happy to say, and looking forward to getting back to work soon. In the meantime, I’ll put my feet up and watch Saturday Night Takeaway tonight with the rest of you lot.’
His most recent hospital scare on Wednesday resulted in an ambulance being called after staff at Pizza Express became concerned for him at around 8pm.
As a precaution, he was taken from Sunningdale, Berks, to nearby Frimley Park hospital in Camberley, Surrey after being checked over by paramedics.
After paramedics helped Stephen, he called his mother Maureen to assure her that he was OK and is now at home resting up and is mortified to have had such a public reaction to the anaesthetic.
A source told : ‘He had a procedure which took place yesterday (Wednesday). Following the anaesthetic that was administered, he had a few drinks which made him unwell and he was.’
After paramedics helped Stephen, he called his mother to assure her that he was OK and is now at home resting up and is mortified to have had such a public reaction to the anaesthetic
Father’s Death
While Stephen keeps his personal life incredible private, it was revealed this week that his father Christopher recently passed away.
A spokesperson for Stephen told : ‘Stephen has had an incredibly tough time over the past few weeks. His beloved father recently passed away which has hit him hard and has been understandably very stressful.
Stephen was born in east London in 1977 to parents Christopher and Maureen who worked as market traders.
The star has credited his success to his parents saying: ‘I don’t mean to sound soppy, but they worked so incredibly hard to bring up me and my two brothers and sister.’
Raised alongside his three siblings, he honed his people skills by working on his father’s market stall before he went on to pursue his career as a magician.
A spokeserspon said : ‘Stephen has had an incredibly tough time over the past few weeks. His beloved father recently passed away which has hit him hard and has been understandably very stressful’
Property Issues
Stephen has also had a stressful time regarding one of his properties after his tenants claimed they had been living with damp and mould for years.
The presenter was forced to apologise to the tenants living in a house owned by his £4million firm after they said they felt ‘bitter and alienated’ after having their complaints ignored for two to three years.
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Tenants living in flats owned by Stephen Mulhern are left 'living with damp and mould for two years'
Pictures of the refurbished bungalow obtained by The Big Issue showed walls covered in damp and mould, which the tenants – one of which was a key worker during the pandemic – said affected their mental health.
Stephen said he had no idea about how bad the flats were and is ‘absolutely mortified’.
He said he was paying an independent management company to look after the property and promised to fix it as a ‘matter of urgency’.
It was refurbished and rented out to the tenant and a flatmate, who pay £775 a month.
The tenants first noticed a problem with damp and mould and pointed it out during an inspection with management agent Connells a few years ago.
They said: ‘The agent merely recommended that we ventilate properly and keep the house warm during the winter. We did, but the damp gradually worsened. We remained patient, sending polite emails at first. In later conversations, my remarks became a bit sharper.’
Stephen has also had a stressful time regarding one of his properties after his tenants claimed they had been living with damp and mould for years (pictured in his London home)
One of the tenants slammed Mr Mulhern as ‘a millionaire, profiting off our misery’
‘I despise how little they seem to care…Stephen Mulhern, Jas Athwal and their ilk are all part of the same system that treats tenants like disposable income streams.’
Stephen’s spokesperson told in October: ‘Stephen was absolutely mortified to learn about this situation and the awful experience the tenant has faced which is clearly unacceptable.
‘Stephen had not been made aware of any of these issues as he relies entirely on an independent company who manage the property on his behalf.
‘Having not been aware of the issues until now, Stephen has taken this matter into his own hands immediately and has personally requested for a team of damp specialists to visit the property to make sure that the problems with the ventilation and mould are resolved as a matter of urgency.
‘We have contacted the tenant to express sincere apologies for the distress and frustration the management of this matter has caused.
‘This falls way below the standards Stephen expects and he is doing everything possible to remedy this ASAP, and this process is already underway.’
Axed Show
Stephen suffered another blow after his beloved ITV show In For A Penny was axed in July.
According to The Mirror, a shock decision meant his own fan-favourite Saturday night gameshow has been shelved after six series – but, bosses haven’t ruled out a potential return and suggested it may have just been temporarily paused.
An ITV source told : ‘Whilst Stephen is busy filming other projects over the summer, In For A Penny continues to be a much loved format for ITV.
‘So don’t put your pennies away just yet as the team could be popping up in your local town, to challenge even more members of the public to take part in their unique and madcap games in the future!’
However Stephen is due to co-host the return of ITV gameshow You Bet! alongside Holly Willoughby as viewers watch ordinary people take on extraordinary challenges.
Featuring a star-studded celebrity panel including comedian Rob Beckett, Alison Hammond and Olly Murs, for each challenge the celebrities and studio audience must bet if the challengers can do it – YES or NO?
Stephen explained: ‘Every time I’ve ever been asked if there was a show that I could ever bring back, I’ve always said You Bet!.
‘So now is the chance for younger viewers who have never seen the show before to enjoy it and the older audience to reminisce and also see the show being brought up to date.’
Stephen suffered another blow after his beloved ITV show In For A Penny was axed in July