Stephen Mulhern reveals surprising reason he won't miss co-host Holly Willoughby after she quit You Bet & DOI was axed
STEPHEN MULHERN wants to kick off a new era of his career, ditching his 'Mr Beige' tag to become the new Bruce Forsyth.
And it is all because sidekick Holly Willoughby ditched him for Netflix.
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Stephen Mulhern reveals why he won't miss co-host Holly Willoughby
Credit: ITV
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Willoughby quit You Bet and Dancing On Ice has been axed, pictured with Stephen
Credit: Rex
The duo lost
But Stephen remains busier than ever with Celebrity
Chatting to TV Biz, he said: 'I'm gutted she's not doing You Bet! with me, but I've had time to think about it and Bruce Forsyth was the first person to do You Bet! and he did it on his own.
'Matthew Kelly made it the best show on the telly.
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'And every time I've been interviewed and they say, 'What show would you bring back?' I've always said 'You Bet!'
'So maybe it happened for a reason. We've filmed one episode already without Holly, and it felt very comfortable. Maybe it is just a one-presenter show.'
'I cried a lot'
Stephen has become an ITV stalwart through his work with Holly,
But now he is forging his own path.
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So much so that, chatting to my reporter Felicity on the Catchphrase set, the former magician revealed he has an idea for a show — and is coughing up his own cash to pay for it.
Stephen said: 'It's very hard to pitch stuff on paper, you've got to show people so I'm just going to invest my own money into it then pitch it.
Watch moment Holly Willoughby is left red-faced as Dancing On Ice co-host Stephen Mulhern makes x-rated joke on live TV
'I want to do a bit of magic, a bit of wind-up, practical jokes . . . the key is for the family to sit down and enjoy it.'
And now Stephen is ready to finally let viewers see the real him after agreeing to film an ITV travelogue with Ant & Dec along the lines of An Idiot Abroad, called Accidental Tourist.
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Stephen said: 'Emma WIllis called me Fifty Shades Of Beige because all my food is beige.
'I don't travel a lot, I always go to Florida — the food's safe.
'But the idea is I step out my comfort zone. I was doing stuff that I'd never do.
'When people see it they'll see a completely different side. It's stripped down. Everyone's like, 'Oh Stephen, he's so nice' but on this I think you're going to see it.
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'People have seen me on TV for nearly 25 years and they go, 'What's he like at home? Is he going out with someone?''
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Stephen is the face of Catchphrase
Credit: ITV
Being exposed in that way was a lot for Stephen.
He added: 'You'll see a lot of emotion, 100 per cent. You'll see me totally out of my comfort zone.
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'I remember sitting on the bed, and I was like, 'Was this the right choice? Was it the right decision?'
'They film and film and film. I've never done that. No one's ever seen me cry but I cried a lot.'
For now Stephen is back in his comfort zone, filming a fresh series of Celebrity Catchphrase.
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And Stephen has now filmed more episodes than show legend Roy Walker.
He said: 'I used to watch Catchphrase growing up. I love it because of the gameplay of it. You can never call it.
'The secret to success now is proper family entertainment.
'If you can't sum up the show in a sentence, it will never work. Play Your Cards Right, higher or lower. You Bet!, will they do it, will they not?
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'Catchphrase, say what you see. Deal Or No deal, pick the right box.'
So what is the secret to his own success?
'Because I'm not the rebel! You hear of certain performers or presenters and they go, 'They're bang out of order'. And you go, 'Well, they're not working now. . .''
Never change, Mr Beige.
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Bruce Forsyth originally hosted You Bet!
Credit: PA:Press Association
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Presenter Stephen with The Sun's Felicity Cross
Sister act two for Ella
ELLA BRUCCOLERI was the unassuming Sister Frances in Call The Midwife, and her latest role is set to be every bit as understated.
I can reveal that the actress, who left the period hospital drama in 2022, has been cast as Mary Bennet in BBC One's The Other Bennet Sister.
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Ella Bruccoleri, left, has been cast as Mary Bennet in BBC One's The Other Bennet Sister
Credit: BBC
Mary is the seemingly unremarkable middle sibling in Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice, and the story sees her stepping out of her sisters' shadows to find her own epic love story.
The ten-parter, which starts filming soon, is based on Janice Hadlow's bestselling novel of the same name.
Ella, who says she can 'relate' to Mary, described writer Sarah Quintrell's scripts as warm and humorous.
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She added: 'They reveal that beneath Mary's awkwardness and formality lies a woman longing for purpose and connection.'
ART OF ENTERTAINMENT
HARRY Hill, Romesh Ranganathan, and the Kwapong Family will host a new BBC children's art show.
Go Get Arty features How To segments and celeb drawalongs.
Harry, who voices paintbrush Bristles, said: 'Go Get Arty is silly, smart and properly creative – a bit like me!'
'Ender line for Bernie
EASTENDERS favourite
Clair's character Bernie Taylor made her debut in 2017 alongside onscreen mum Karen (
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EastEnders favourite Clair Norris has been axed after eight years on the soap
Credit: BBC
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It comes three months after executive producer Chris Clenshaw was replaced by Ben Wadey.
A source said: 'When a soap gets a new boss they want to make their own mark, it's nothing personal.
'She was the last Taylor standing and it's time to close the chapter on them.'
I'm sure the imminent return of Jake Wood as Max Branning after four years away will bring more drama.
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