Who Is Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Mulhern is one of the most familiar faces on British television, a presenter, magician and comedian who has fronted some of ITV’s biggest entertainment shows for more than two decades. From Catchphrase to Deal or No Deal, from In for a Penny to Dancing on Ice, he has become the broadcaster’s go-to host for prime-time game shows, thanks to a combination of warmth, quick wit and genuine showmanship. Audiences know him as the man who can walk up to a stranger in the street, make them laugh, fool them with a card trick and send them home with a cash prize, all within a few minutes of television. That effortless charm is the product of a lifetime in entertainment, and it has made him one of the most trusted presenters in the country.
What makes Mulhern different from many television hosts is that he arrived at presenting through magic, not through drama school or reality television. He began performing tricks as a child, became the youngest member of The Magic Circle at 17, and performed at the Royal Variety Performance before he ever presented a television show. That background gives him something most presenters do not have: the ability to create a moment of genuine wonder in the middle of a game show. Whether he is revealing a catchphrase, opening a red box or asking a member of the public to risk a pound, he brings the timing and showmanship of a magician to everything he does.
Early Life and a Childhood Obsession With Magic
Stephen Mulhern was born Stephen Daniel Mulhern on 4 April 1977 in Stratford, London, to parents Maureen and Christopher, who worked as market traders. He grew up in east London and attended St Bonaventure’s school in Forest Gate, where his fascination with magic began. He started practising tricks at the age of 11, and by his teenage years he was performing for anyone who would watch. His talent was obvious early on, and at 17 he became the youngest member of The Magic Circle, the prestigious British organisation for magicians. That achievement marked him out as a serious performer, not just a schoolboy with a card trick, and it set the course for everything that followed.
The magic world gave Mulhern his first taste of the big stage. In 1997 he performed at the Royal Variety Performance, one of the most prestigious dates in the British entertainment calendar, and it was there that television executives first spotted his potential. Magic had taught him how to hold an audience, how to time a reveal and how to recover gracefully when something goes wrong, skills that would prove invaluable when he moved into live television. He went on to tour the UK with his own one-man magic and variety show, building a loyal live audience and a reputation as a performer who could work any room, from a theatre stage to a television studio.
Children’s Television and the First Break
Stephen Mulhern began his television career at CITV, presenting the children’s craft and science show Finger Tips from 2001 to 2004, often alongside Fearne Cotton. Children’s television is one of the hardest schools in broadcasting, because young audiences are brutally honest about what bores them, and Mulhern thrived in it. He went on to co-present Ministry of Mayhem and Holly and Stephen’s Saturday Showdown with close friend Holly Willoughby, a partnership that made them one of the most popular double acts in children’s television. He also presented Tricky TV from 2005 to 2010, a show that let him combine his two great passions, magic and presenting, in front of a young audience.
Those early years shaped the presenter he would become. Working with children taught him to think on his feet, to cope with the unexpected and to keep a show moving when everything goes wrong, and those skills have served him ever since. His friendship with Holly Willoughby, forged in the chaos of Saturday morning television, has lasted decades, and the two have remained close friends throughout their careers. He also presented the BAFTA-winning Quick Trick Show during this period, further proof that his magic background gave him an edge that other young presenters could not match.
Britain’s Got More Talent and Prime Time
Stephen Mulhern became a prime-time star in 2007, when he took over as host of Britain’s Got More Talent, the ITV2 spin-off of Britain’s Got Talent. For thirteen series, until 2019, he was the man backstage with the contestants, capturing their nerves, their joy and their tears, and interviewing the judges with a cheeky irreverence that made the show essential viewing. His interactions with contestants and judges, often improvised and always funny, made the spin-off a must-watch companion to the main show. He became the friendly face of the biggest entertainment format in the country, and his work on the show made him a household name.
Prime-time success brought a flood of other opportunities. Mulhern presented This Morning’s Hub from 2011 to 2014, fronted Animals Do the Funniest Things from 2007 to 2011, and hosted shows including Get Your Act Together and Pick Me! He also became a regular on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, presenting the Ant versus Dec segment from 2016 onwards, a role that put him at the heart of ITV’s flagship Saturday night entertainment. His career now sits comfortably alongside other major television hosts, and readers who enjoy presenter biographies can also read about fellow presenter Paddy McGuinness and his own journey through British television.
Catchphrase, In for a Penny and Game Show King
Stephen Mulhern has hosted the revived version of Catchphrase since 2013, breathing new life into the classic game show built around the phrase Say What You See. The format is deceptively simple: contestants must identify familiar phrases from animated pictures, and Mulhern’s energy keeps it moving at a pace that never drags. He has now fronted the show for more than a decade, and it remains one of ITV’s most reliable daytime hits. The show’s enduring popularity is a testament to both the format and its host, who has made the programme entirely his own while respecting the traditions that made it a classic in the first place.
The game show that best shows off Mulhern’s personality, however, is In for a Penny, which ran from 2019 to 2024. The show began life as a segment on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, in which Mulhern travelled across the UK challenging members of the public to take part in silly games for the chance to win cash. Its success earned it a stand-alone series, and it became a fan favourite thanks to its light-hearted nature and Mulhern’s engaging interactions with the public. He also hosted Big Star’s Little Star from 2013 to 2018 and the game show Rolling In It from 2020 to 2021, cementing his reputation as the king of the British game show.
Deal or No Deal, Dancing on Ice and Radio
Stephen Mulhern took on his biggest job yet in 2023, when he became the new host of the rebooted Deal or No Deal, taking over from Noel Edmonds, who had fronted the original run. Deal or No Deal is one of the most iconic game shows in British television history, and stepping into it was a major vote of confidence from ITV. Mulhern brought his own warmth and humour to the format, and the reboot has proved a success, with the show returning for further series. His full list of shows is documented in full on Wikipedia, and it reads like a tour of the biggest entertainment formats of the last twenty years.
Alongside his television work, Mulhern has built a successful radio career. He co-presented Sunday mornings on Heart FM with Emma Willis for six years until 2018, and since 2021 he has been a cover presenter on Virgin Radio UK, stepping in for Graham Norton and Chris Evans when needed. He also took on Dancing on Ice for the 2024 and 2025 series, adding a live ice-skating spectacular to a CV that already covered magic, children’s television, game shows and radio. Few presenters have worked across so many different formats, and fewer still have succeeded in all of them.
Books, Stage and Life Off Screen
Away from the screen, Mulhern has become a successful children’s author. In 2022 he released his first children’s book, Max Magic, which reached number one in various Amazon children’s bestseller charts. The Sunday Times-bestselling series continued with Max Magic: The Greatest Show on Earth in 2023 and Max Magic: The Incredible Holiday Hideout in 2024, bringing his love of magic to a new generation of young readers. He is also the co-creator and producer of Astonishing, an exclusive magic and illusion production for P and O Cruises, and he has appeared at the Royal Variety Performance on four separate occasions, including a standout performance in 2024.
Mulhern keeps his private life largely out of the spotlight, and he lives not far from his parents in south-west London, a closeness that reflects the importance of family in his life. Away from broadcasting, he is a popular choice for corporate and brand events as a live event host, and he has hosted internal events for major companies including Aviva, Co-Op and Iceland. His speaking and events work draws on the same skills that made him a television star: energy, professionalism and an instinct for working a room. Whether he is hosting a game show, a corporate dinner or a magic tour, he brings the same enthusiasm to every stage he steps onto.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is he? Stephen Mulhern was born on 4 April 1977, which makes him 49 years old in 2026. He began performing magic as a child, became the youngest member of The Magic Circle at 17, and has now spent more than 25 years on television, moving from children’s shows to some of the biggest prime-time formats in the country. His longevity is a testament to both his talent and his work ethic, and he shows no sign of slowing down.
Is he married? Mulhern keeps his private life very private, and he has not publicly confirmed a marriage. Unlike many celebrities, he rarely discusses relationships in interviews, preferring to let his work speak for itself. What is known is that he remains close to his parents and family in south-west London, and that he values his privacy highly. Fans who follow his career know him for his shows, his magic and his humour, not for his personal life, and that is exactly how he has always wanted it, with the focus firmly on entertaining his audience.
What shows does he present now? He currently hosts Catchphrase and Deal or No Deal on ITV, and he has recently fronted Dancing on Ice. His back catalogue includes Britain’s Got More Talent, In for a Penny, Big Star’s Little Star, Rolling In It, Animals Do the Funniest Things and This Morning’s Hub, as well as his long-running Ant versus Dec segment on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. He also works as a cover presenter on Virgin Radio UK.
Did he start as a magician? Yes, magic came first. He began practising tricks at the age of 11, became the youngest member of The Magic Circle at 17, and performed at the Royal Variety Performance in 1997 before he ever presented a television show. His magic background is still central to who he is as a performer, and he continues to tour with magic shows, write magic-themed children’s books and create magic productions alongside his television work. Magic remains the foundation of everything he does on screen, from the timing of a reveal to the confidence that carries him through live television.
Final Thoughts
Stephen Mulhern has spent more than two decades becoming one of the most trusted and best-loved presenters in British television, and he has done it by being himself. From a boy practising card tricks in east London to the host of Deal or No Deal, his career has been built on talent, hard work and a genuine love of entertaining people. He has never chased fame for its own sake; instead, he has let his skills do the talking, and audiences have responded by staying with him from children’s television to prime-time game shows.
For viewers who grew up watching him on Finger Tips or Britain’s Got More Talent, the pleasure of his career is watching a performer who still clearly loves what he does. For newcomers, there is a vast back catalogue to enjoy, from the catchphrases to the red boxes and the penny games. Whatever he does next, whether it is another game show, another book or another magic tour, it will be delivered with the same energy and warmth that have made him a star.
