Stephen Mulhern shares excitement over big TV return on You Bet! Just days after shock collapse
STEPHEN Mulhern has shared his excitement ahead of a huge new TV job just weeks after he dramatically collapsing.
Last week The Sun told how Stephen, 47, had been taken to hospital after falling ill at a Pizza Express restaurant.
But the presenter is focusing on his busy schedule after it was confirmed he and Holly Willoughby will be back for a second series of You Bet! – before the first series of the reboot has even aired.
You Bet! was a hugely popular quiz show in the late eighties and nineties, originally fronted by Bruce Forsyth and then Matthew Kelly.
Now Stephen has confessed he’s thrilled about getting to work with his Dancing on Ice co-host Holly, 43, on the show and for them to put their own spin on it.
Speaking to The Sun’s TV Mag, he said: “The show is very different. The actual format of the show is obviously the same, where members of the public will come on and attempt to do a challenge that is just out of this world!
“Having Holly by my side is just a complete and utter joy because obviously we’ve worked together on so many shows over the years.
“We’re such good friends, and similarly to Dancing on Ice, which we both love, we react to each other, we support each other, and more importantly, we support the contestants.”
Stephen has been presenting alongside Holly for more than two decades now, after they started out in kids’ TV together.
And Stephen revealed why he thinks that together he and Holly are TV gold.
He said: “I think we just know each other inside out.
“We enjoy each other’s company and I just love her to bits. Presenting the show together was just a treat because there were ups, there were downs, there were emotional moments, there were shocking moments.
“But together, supporting each other and supporting the contestants and it just it just works a treat.”
But Stephen also shared which other female presenter he would love to work with.
He added: “If it wasn’t Holly, it would be Claudia Winkleman. I think she’s amazing and I think she’s a brilliant, brilliant presenter. Us together would be funny.”
TV Mag is available for free every Saturday, only in The Sun
20 years on TV
By Ellie Henman
TELLY favourite Stephen Mulhern got his big break as a TV host on a kids’ show more than 20 years ago — alongside current Dancing On Ice co-host Holly Willoughby.
Initially with Michael Underwood, they presented Ministry of Mayhem — later rebranded as Holly And Stephen’s Saturday Showdown — on ITV from 2004 until its axe in 2006.
He had earlier used his magic skills to win Jonathan Ross’ Big Big Talent Show, which led to a Royal Variety Performance outing in 1997.
Later, Stephen hosted Britain’s Got More Talent for 12 years until 2019 and joined BGT hosts Ant and Dec on Saturday Night Takeaway in 2016.
That also led to spin-off In For A Penny in 2019.
ITV also picked him for their reboots of Catchphrase and Deal Or No Deal, and he replaced Phillip Schofield on Dancing On Ice — reuniting him with friend Holly.