Stephen Mulhern has spoken out after Ricky Hatton sent him flying with a playful punch on Dancing on Ice – admitting it left him bruised.
The ITV ice-skating competition returned at the weekend with Stephen and Holly Willoughby at the helm, and got off to a hilarious start when boxer Ricky – one of this year’s contestants – gave the TV star a joking jab on the arm. It sent Stephen tumbling to the ground, leaving co-host Holly looking gobsmacked.
After the show, a post on Ricky’s X account said: “Ricky even landing knockout blows on Dancing On Ice. Hope you’re okay Stephen Mulhern.” Stephen then revealed: “I’m already starting to bruise!”
READ MORE: Want more showbiz? Daily Star has just the thing for you!
READ MORE: Want more TV? Daily Star has just the thing for you!
During a pre-planned segment of the show Ricky was asked to hold the microphone but then Stephen started to tease him by pulling faces and repeatedly propping up Ricky’s arm when it dropped. Holly, looking glam in tight-fitting silver, jokingly told the boxer to “just hit” her fellow presenter – and to her surprise, he obliged.
(Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The star swung for Stephen and landed a whack on his shoulder, sending the star sprawling. Holly looked stunned as Stephen fell behind her, clapping her hands to her face and spinning around in shock.
Viewers were also tickled, with one confessing on X that they “had to keep rewinding it” for another look. “That was hilarious,” posted someone else, as another person admitted: “Loved that.” “Best bit of the show!” said another viewer.
(Image: ITV)
“Sorry Stephen, I hope it wasn’t too sore,” said another fan. “Laughing so hard over that punch,” commented someone else, as another viewer laughed: “I’m creasing!”
Stephen later told MailOnline that the skit was staged but that it did leave him a little sore. “Ricky is one strong man, I asked him to punch me as a gag forgetting for a moment that he is a three-time boxing world champion and yes it hurt, a lot!” he said.
(Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The TV star has taken over as Holly’s co-host from Phillip Schofield. Holly and Phil had presented both This Morning and Dancing On Ice together for years, but last May, Phillip stepped down from This Morning and away from TV after admitting to what he said was an “unwise, but not illegal” relationship with a younger ITV colleague.
There had been speculation about whether Holly would be back to the rink, after she quit This Morning in October. The blonde left after 14 years after a man was charged in relation to an alleged plot to kidnap and kill her.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
