Stephen Mulhern returns to TV for the primary time since his well being scare whereas mourning the loss of life of his father as he joins Holly Willoughby for Dancing On Ice launch

Stephen Mulhern has returned to TV for the first time since his health scare, as he and Holly Willoughby kicked off the new series of Dancing On Ice on Sunday night.

The presenter, 47, was rushed to hospital in November after falling ill over a meal, weeks after the death of his father Christopher.

While Stephen did appear on screens as the host of Deal or No Deal, and ITV’s revival of You Bet! over the Christmas period, these shows were pre-recorded before his health scare.

The former CITV star cut a suave figure in a sharp purple velvet suit as he joined longtime pal Holly to front Dancing On Ice’s new series.

The new series saw the first six celebrities take to the rink with their skating partners for the first time in a bid to win over viewers. 

An ambulance was called for Stephen after he collapsed at a Berkshire branch of Pizza Express, having reacted badly to an anesthetic he’d taken earlier in the day.

Stephen Mulhern has returned to TV for the first time since his health scare, as he and Holly Willoughby kicked off the new series of Dancing On Ice on Sunday night

The presenter was rushed to hospital in November after falling ill over a meal

Following his collapse, a source told The Sun: ‘Stephen has been going through an incredibly tough time of late. He is grieving the loss of his dad to whom he was so, so close. 

He’s also been battling several well-documented health problems, and on Wednesday morning had a procedure requiring a local anesthetic.

‘He took himself off for a quiet, solo dinner that evening, had a few drinks and just reacted incredibly badly. He’s only human, and his dad’s death has hit him hard.’

After paramedics helped Mulhern, he was put on the phone to his mother to assure her that he was OK.

A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Stephen has had an incredibly tough time over the past few weeks. His beloved father recently passed away which has hit him hard and has been understandably very stressful.

‘In addition he had a procedure which took place yesterday (Wednesday). Following the anaesthetic that was administered, he had a few drinks which made him unwell and he was.’

Mulhern has been receiving continuous support from his team, ITV bosses and long-term friend and colleague Holly Willoughby, his co-host on the newly revived You Bet!

The Deal Or No Deal star was born in east London in 1977 to market trader parents Christopher and Maureen.

Stephen, who was mourning the death of his father Christopher, reacted to an anesthetic he had earlier in the day while having a drink (pictured with his father in 2018)

The former CITV star cut a suave figure in a sharp purple velvet suit as he joined longtime pal Holly to front Dancing On Ice’s new series

He started off as a magician before going on to become one of Britain’s most popular TV presenters.

He has credited his success to his parents saying: ‘I don’t mean to sound soppy, but they worked so incredibly hard to bring up me and my two brothers and sister.’

Mulhern began his career on CITV in 1998, working on children’s TV show Finger Tips with Fearne Cotton.

He also enjoyed a solo presenting stint with children’s show Tricky TV from 2005 to 2010 and co-hosted Holly & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown (originally called Ministry of Mayhem) with Holly Willoughby in the Noughties.

Mulhern made the leap to adults TV in 2006 when he presented the ITV2 spin-off Dancing on Ice: Defrosted, while former co-host Holly and Phillip Schofield hosted the main show.

He also worked alongside the pair when he presented inside The Hub, a small segment on This Morning.

His first primetime hosting gig came in 2010 when he fronted Magic Numbers on ITV and three years later he landed the revived version of ITV game show Catchphrase.

Other notable shows fronted by Mulhern include ITV’s Big Star’s Little Star, Sunday Side Up, Get Your Act Together and ITV2 panel show Reality Bites.

He nabbed more work alongside Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly in 2016 when he took over Ashley Robert’s role as the presenter of the Ant vs Dec segment on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

Another segment he hosted on the show, In For A Penny, went on to land its own stand alone show, with Stephen at the helm.

As well as TV work, Mulhern hosted Sunday Mornings on Heart Radio with Emma Willis for six years until 2018 and is a regular stand-in on Virgin Radio UK.

DANCING ON ICE 2025: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

FERNE MCCANN 

AGE: 34

PROFESSION: Reality TV star 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m so excited, it’s going to be a huge challenge but I’m excited for the glitz and glamour of the show.’

SIR STEVE REDRGAVE

AGE: 62

PROFESSION: Former Olympic rower 

WHAT DID THEY SAY? ‘It’s like going back to being an athlete again, I’ve been competing most of my life.’

CHARLIE BROOKS 

AGE: 43

PROFESSION: Soap star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve skated when I was a kid and with mulled wine at Christmas. Until I get on the ice I have no idea how I’m going to be. I’m not that strong.’

 

 ANTON FERDINAND

 AGE: 39

PROFESSION: Footballer and pundit

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: Dancing On Ice will give me that focus but I’m also doing it for my daughter because she loves dance and performing arts.’

 

 CHRIS TAYLOR

Age: 34

PROFESSION: Reality star

 WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m somewhere between absolutely terrified and very excited and I keep flitting between the two quite aggressively throughout the day. I’ve not even started stretching yet, I need to.’

 

CHELSEE HEALEY 

 AGE: 36

PROFESSION: Actress

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m ready, I’m good to go, let’s go! I’ve got a bit of rhythm but skating on ice is completely different, I’m excited. 

MOLLIE PEARCE 

 AGE: 22

PROFESSION: Reality TV star and model

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘It will be fun, I want to challenge myself, I’m ready for the challenge.’

SAM ASTON 

AGE: 31 

PROFESSION: Soap star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘Anyone at work who I’ve spoken to has done it have all kind of the same thing that it is a great experience and it is really hard, and it’s tiring and tough but it is brilliant as well.’

JOSH JONES

AGE: 31

PROFESSION: Comedian 

WHAT DID THEY SAY? ‘I’ve not got any skating experience whatsoever, I did it once for a date years ago and I wasn’t very good, I was holding onto the railings the entire time and we aren’t together now.’

 

 MICHAELA STRACHAN 

 

 AGE: 58

PROFESSION: Television presenter

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘It’s going to be a big challenge, I think the last time I was on ice was 14 years ago, because I trained as a dancer, I’ve got a bit of balance, but I have no idea whether I’m going to be good.’

 

DAN EDGAR 

AGE: 34

PROFESSION: TOWIE star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m looking forward to it but the thought of the live shows and performing is very real.’

 

DAME SARAH STOREY 

AGE: 46

PROFESSION: Paralympian 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m excited to learn a new skill and have the opportunity to put myself out there and learn a new sport.’