Stephen Mulhern has said he spent most of his childhood watching over his shoulder for police.
The Catchphrase host, 47, revealed his market trader father was a lot like Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses. He also compared himself to Del’s younger more naive brother Rodney Trotter.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, he said: “My dad was a flypitcher on Petticoat Lane in east London. If you’re not sure what a flypitcher is, my dad was Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses and I was Rodney.”
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He further shared: “Crack of dawn, dad was out there selling novelty toys or them slice-and-dice vegetable choppers, me and my brothers looking out for the police.” He also revealed that his father would let him try his hand at the stall, which he believes helped him learn how to perform in front of real people.
(Image: WireImage)
At the age of 11, Stephen developed a fascination for magic, which led him to become a Redcoat entertainer at Butlin’s when he was 17. The Deal or No Deal host insisted that his interest in magic wasn’t about being cool but stemmed from a genuine love for the craft.
He added: “Magic is still a huge part of my life. I do a season at Butlin’s every summer, honing my magic skills. Even if I’m going shopping, I’ll have a pack of cards in my pocket.
(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
“And if someone stops for a chat or a selfie I’ll try out a new trick. What with your David Blaines and your Dynamos, magic has acquired a certain amount of cool.”
Stephen explained: “But I didn’t get into magic to be cool, I did it because I loved it. Other kids watched Match of the Day and got into football, I watched Paul Daniels and decided to learn magic.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“And it was the magic that led me to be a Redcoat at Butlin’s. It gave me a career.” Meanwhile, earlier this year, Stephen’s loyal fans were delighted when he was announced as Phillip Schofield’s replacement on Dancing On Ice.
The TV star stepped into the role alongside Holly Willoughby after Phil had admitted to an “unwise but not illegal” affair and firstly stepped down from This Morning, before also deciding not to continue with other work with ITV.
After much success with his on-screen career of recent, it seems thing could be on the up where romance is concerned too, with Stephen being linked to This Morning star Josie Gibson after they were seen holding hands together.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
