Stephen Mulhern is very private about his love life (Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
TV star may be a television favourite, dazzling viewers with his presenting panache, yet it seems Cupid’s arrow has somewhat missed its mark in his personal affairs.
Crowned as the fresh host of the beloved gameshow Deal or No Deal last year, Mulhern stepped into Noel Edmonds’ shoes.
Reflecting on his new role, Stephen admitted, “Deal Or No Deal was not only one of my favourite shows, it was my dad’s favourite show – when I told him I was doing it, it was like he’d won the lottery,” clearly indicating the personal significance of this presenting gig on ITV.
His stint as the Deal or No Deal maestro isn’t his sole venture on the channel; he’s also sliding into the co-host spot on Dancing On Ice, previously occupied by , as well as hosting a new ITV show with . Yet despite being a household name, Stephen’s off-screen life, particularly in romantic terms, largely remains an enigma.
Emma and Stephen previously had a romance (Image: Getty Images,)
At 47, recent buzz linked him romantically to This Morning’s effervescent Josie Gibson after they were seen hand-in-hand outside a studio during the finale taping of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway on April 13. The duo, Stephen and 39 year old Josie, appeared rather close, igniting rumours of a secret romance.
The gossip mill churned vigorously until Josie herself addressed the whispers head-on earlier this week. In a candid chat with OK! Magazine, she put a full stop to the conjecture by clarifying that her and Stephen are nothing more than ‘best friends’.
The This Morning presenter revealed: “Stephen? Oh, he’s so lovely. We are really good friends, I really adore him, but there’s no romance in the air. But he’s so nice.” Josie added: “Every bloke that I come in contact with, the press seems to think that I’m having it off with them.”
Josie Gibson declared her love for Stephen Mulhern (Image: josiegibson85/Instagram)
“People must think I’m a right goer. I’m not like that. To be with somebody or to even kiss somebody, I’ve really got to love them. I’ve really got to really be into them. I can’t give my energy over when I’m not completely into it. You know when you get that magic connection? “.
“For me it only comes around like once every seven years or eight years. I love the love because those are very, very special [moments] when you find them.”
While Stephen has remained tight-lipped about his love life, his past relationship with actress Emma Barton, who portrays Honey Mitchell, is well-known.
Stephen and Emma, 46, first crossed paths on the set of a pantomime production of Snow White in 2008. Emma took on the role of Snow White while Stephen played her loyal best friend Muddles.
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It’s believed the duo formed a close bond shortly after working together. Like many celebrity couples, they kept their relationship private but mutually decided to split in 2011.
Britain’s Got More Talent presenter Stephen Mulhern disclosed his past romance concluded due to a “natural end” but expressed optimism about finding ‘the one’. He cited his hectic work life as an obstacle.
Speaking to Celebs Now in 2018, Mulhern revealed, “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.”