Stephen Mulhern has led a high-profile media career over the past two decades, fronting some of the UK’s highest rating primetime shows.
Cutting his teeth in children’s television around the turn of the millennium, Stephen is now synonymous with British comedy.
A fixture on the likes of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and Catchphrase, the Stratford-born star is mates with some of the biggest names in the business, cementing his status as showbiz royalty.
While Stephen has a glittering career on the screen, he prefers to keep his private life out of the spotlight.
Today, Stephen turns 44, and to mark his birthday, Daily Star has taken a look at everything we know about the hit TV personality – from his childhood interest in performing to his inevitable rise to fame.
Happy Birthday, Stephen!
Stylish interior design
(Image: stephenmulhern/Instagram)
Stephen has a substantial property portfolio, with homes in Benfleet Essex, Leicester and Barnet, as well as his sprawling London home.
The In For A Penny presenter previously gave fans a peek inside his London abode, which is complete with an open-plan living area and plush grey carpeting.
Stephen has decked out his living room with a brown leather sofa, fur throws, and patterned cushions.
(Image: stephenmulhern/Instagram)
The kitchen is centred by a marble island countertop, which has been circled by some button-hole leather chairs.
In a chic finishing touch, Stephen has a bespoke shelving unit built into the wall, which has been backlit and divided into square cubby holes.
The staircase features a glass wall to one side, opening up the space and inviting in extra light.
Stephen also has a giant flat screen TV, giving him the chance to catch up on his favourite shows – as well as to tune in to his own productions.
London family life
(Image: stephenmulhern/Instagram)
Born in London, Stephen’s parents, Maureen and Christopher, had a huge impact on his love of performing, which was sparked at an early age.
Both of the senior Mulherns were market traders, sending him to school at St Bonaventure’s Catholic School in the east of the city.
His dad taught him the art of magic at the age of 11, inspiring what would become a lifelong passion.
A young Stephen first started doing magic tricks during family holidays in Butlin’s, eventually earning a membership in the elite club The Magic Circle.
(Image: stephenmulhern/Instagram)
Last year, he told Mirror his “biggest regret” was performing a Metamorphosis illusion trick on Blue Peter at an early age.
He recalled: “I had just become the youngest member of The Magic Circle.
“My dad was like my agent at the time, and he got a call asking me to go on Blue Peter. I had to ask a friend to teach me the trick. It completely failed.”
Hardworking rise to fame
(Image: ITV)
His love of magic helpied him get his big TV break, and at the age of 20, Stephen was invited to the Royal Variety Performance at the Victoria Palace Theatre.
He became a household name when he started hosting Saturday Showdown on CITV alongside Holly Willoughby, which later became known as Ministry of Mayhem.
Still great mates with Holly, Stephen marked her 40th earlier this year, taking to social media to write: “Happy birthday to everyone celebrating their birthday today including my great friend @hollywilloughby.
“We had three good years on Saturday Morning TV and never looked back, have a great day and see you very soon.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Stephen also worked alongside Fearne Cotton on children’s show Finger Tips, and fronted the hit kids’ show Tricky TV for hard a decade.
In the 2010s, after stints hosting the Dancing On Ice spin-off and fronting segments on This Morning, Stephen made the switch to primetime TV.
His roles on Catchphrase and Big Star’s Little Star were evidence of his onscreen charisma, leading to a gig presenting BGT spin-off Britain’s Got More Talent.
And today, he has a regular stint as the gamekeeper in Ant vs Dec’ segment on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, as well as starring in In For A Penny, which returns this spring.
Relationships and online dating
(Image: Getty Images)
It is unknown whether Stephen is currently in a relationship, but back in 2018, the presenter admitted he’d been single for the past four years.
With work getting in the way of his love life, Stephen confessed he needed to make more time for romance, telling Celeb Now: “Last time I went on a date was about four years ago.
“That makes me sound really sad! I need a life. I need to stop working so much.”
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Stephen was previously linked to EastEnders actress Emma Barton, with the pair having struck up a connection while starring in a 2008 pantomime production of Snow White in Birmingham.
The sweethearts reportedly split three years later, with Stephen saying the relationship came to a “natural end”.
And, Stephen has made it clear he has no plans to meet a prospective match on a dating app – previously insisting he found the concept of online dating “bizarre”.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
