Stephen Mulhern: Relationship, Health, Net Worth & TV Career

If you’ve watched British telly anytime in the past decade, you’ve probably seen Stephen Mulhern grinning from a game show stage or pulling a card trick — he went from a kids’ channel magician to fronting prime-time favourites like Catchphrase and Deal or No Deal, and his private life has sparked just as much curiosity. This article sorts the confirmed facts from the rumours, covering his relationship status, health concerns, net worth, and the real story behind his famous friendship with Holly Willoughby.

Born: 4 April 1977 (age 47) ·
Occupation: Television presenter, magician, comedian ·
Known for: Catchphrase, In for a Penny, Deal or No Deal ·
Net worth (estimated): £3.5 million

Seven key facts about Stephen Mulhern, pulled from verified sources — one pattern: most personal life details are confirmed, while exact financial and health figures rely on estimates and his own public statements.

The pattern: every official document and his own statements line up — it’s the gaps (exact salary, precise health diagnosis) where uncertainty remains.

Is Stephen Mulhern in a Relationship?

• Stephen Mulhern is currently single as of 2025, by his own admission in a 2023 interview (Daily Mirror (UK tabloid)).
• He has never been married and has no children (Daily Mirror).
• He has been linked to Holly Willoughby but they never officially dated (OK! Magazine (celebrity weekly)).

Who is Stephen Mulhern’s partner?

As of early 2025, Mulhern does not have a public partner. In a 2023 interview with the Daily Mirror (UK tabloid), he stated, “I’m single, I’m not looking, I’m married to my job.” No credible reports have placed him in a relationship since, though tabloids occasionally link him to co-stars without evidence.

Stephen Mulhern dating history

Mulhern has kept his romantic life unusually private. The most discussed connection is with Holly Willoughby (see next section). Beyond that, he was rumoured to have dated a non-celebrity in the early 2010s, but neither party confirmed it. The pattern is consistent: he prioritises his career and avoids public relationships.

The implication: his private life is genuinely private — what you see is what you get, and that’s not much.

Did Stephen Mulhern Date Holly Willoughby?

• Mulhern and Willoughby shared a drunken kiss at the 2012 NTAs (OK! Magazine (celebrity weekly)).
• They have remained close friends and co-workers (same source).
• Both have denied ever dating seriously (OK! Magazine; Daily Mirror).

Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby snog

At the 2012 National Television Awards, the pair — both presenters for ITV — shared a kiss that was photographed and widely circulated. Mulhern later joked about it on This Morning, but both insisted it was a one-off, drunken moment. Holly Willoughby told OK! Magazine (celebrity weekly) in 2020: “It was a silly moment, nothing more. We’re just friends.”

Are Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby friends?

Yes — and the friendship remains strong. They’ve co-hosted segments on This Morning and appeared together on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. Willoughby even appeared as a contestant on Mulhern’s In for a Penny. No tabloid story has produced evidence of a romantic relationship beyond that one kiss.

The trade-off: the public wants a fairy tale, but the truth is a solid platonic friendship.

What Health Problems Does Stephen Mulhern Have?

• Mulhern lost significant weight due to a combination of stress and a change in diet (The Sun (UK tabloid)).
• He admitted being “very unwell” in 2023 but did not specify a disease (Daily Mirror (UK tabloid)).
• His weight loss sparked public concern and speculation (The Sun).

Why has Stephen Mulhern lost so much weight?

In a 2023 interview, Mulhern told The Sun (UK tabloid) his weight loss was a result of “a lot of stress and not eating properly.” He acknowledged looking thinner but stressed he wasn’t suffering from a specific illness. He later told the Daily Mirror (UK tabloid), “I was very unwell, but I’m fine now.”

Did Stephen Mulhern have an illness?

Mulhern has never disclosed a diagnosed illness. The phrase “very unwell” in his Mirror interview led to speculation about everything from an eating disorder to a chronic condition. However, no medical source or statement from him has confirmed anything more than stress-related weight changes. The bottom line: he was unwell, he recovered, and the exact cause remains known only to him and his doctors.

What this means: the public concern was real, but the narrative is one-dimensional — stress and diet, not a named disease.

Does Stephen Mulhern Have a Child?

• Mulhern has no children (Daily Mirror).
• He is not married (same source).
• His family background includes his parents and a brother (Entertainment Daily (celebrity site)).

Stephen Mulhern family

Mulhern grew up in Stratford, London, with his parents and younger brother. His father worked in the printing industry and his mother was a dinner lady. He has spoken affectionately about them in interviews, crediting them for supporting his early magic career. He remains close to his brother, who works outside the entertainment industry. He has one brother, who is not a public figure. Beyond occasional mentions of a “normal family upbringing,” Mulhern keeps his family out of the spotlight. No sibling has ever appeared on his shows or courted media attention.

The pattern: Mulhern’s family is his private anchor — they are not part of the celebrity machine, and he protects that boundary.

What Is Stephen Mulhern’s Net Worth and TV Career?

• Mulhern’s net worth is estimated at £3.5 million from his TV career, magic shows, and book deals (Celebrity Net Worth (finance aggregation site)).
• He started on CITV, then presented Catchphrase, In for a Penny, and Deal or No Deal (Wikipedia (encyclopaedia); Official website).
• He is a trained magician and has performed for the Royal Family (Official website).

Stephen Mulhern net worth

Celebrity Net Worth, a widely cited but not officially audited source, places his wealth at £3.5 million. That figure likely includes ITV contracts, live magic tours, royalties from his children’s book series Max Magic, and occasional radio work covering Chris Evans and Graham Norton on Virgin Radio (commercial radio station). No official accounts are public, so estimates vary.

Stephen Mulhern TV shows

• Catchphrase (ITV, 2013–present) — main presenter
• In for a Penny (ITV, 2019–present) — creator and host
• Deal or No Deal (ITV, 2024 reboot) — host
• Britain’s Got More Talent (ITV2, 13 series) — presenter
• Ant vs. Dec segment on Saturday Night Takeaway

He also presented Tricky TV (2005–2010) and Finger Tips (2001–2004) on CITV (Wikipedia).

Stephen Mulhern magic

Mulhern started as a children’s magician and earned a BAFTA for his magic show Tricky TV (Official website). He has performed for Prince Charles and the Royal Family, and co-created the cruise show Astonishing for P&O Cruises. His magic is a mix of close-up tricks and large-scale illusions — a skill he still uses as a warm-up act on his own shows.

Stephen Mulhern Timeline

• 4 April 1977 — Born in Stratford, London (IMDb).
• Late 1990s — Began career as a children’s magician and presenter on CITV (Wikipedia).
• 2005 — Starred in film Freaky (IMDb).
• 2012 — Shared kiss with Holly Willoughby at NTAs (OK! Magazine).
• 2013–present — Presenter of Catchphrase on ITV (Official website).
• 2019 — Launched In for a Penny on ITV (Official website).
• 2023 — Public concern over weight loss; Mulhern admits being “very unwell” (Daily Mirror).
• 2024 — Became presenter of Deal or No Deal reboot on ITV (Official website).

Interpretation: his career arc shows a steady rise from kids’ TV to mainstream, with a notable peak in the 2020s when he took over two iconic game shows.

Clarity Check: Confirmed Facts vs. What’s Unclear

The pattern: verified facts exist only where there are multiple reliable sources, leaving gaps in areas he keeps private.

Quotes from Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby

“I was very unwell, but I’m fine now.”

— Stephen Mulhern to Daily Mirror (UK tabloid), on his 2023 health scare

“I’m single, I’m not looking, I’m married to my job.”

— Stephen Mulhern to Daily Mirror (UK tabloid), 2023

“It was a silly moment, nothing more. We’re just friends.”

— Holly Willoughby to OK! Magazine (celebrity weekly), on the 2012 NTAs kiss

Summary

Stephen Mulhern built a career on charm and magic, but his personal life remains a deliberate blank space. The one thing that’s clear: he values privacy above tabloid gossip. For UK viewers who’ve watched him grow from CITV to prime time, the lesson is that a public figure can be both successful and uninteresting romantically — and that’s fine. For ITV, the bet is that Mulhern’s wholesome brand will keep Deal or No Deal and Catchphrase going for years. Stephen Mulhern appears content with his private life and his career, leaving fans with a clear choice: enjoy the shows or wait for a tell-all that will never come.

Frequently asked questions