Stephen Mulhern opens up on health issue that forced him to take time off ‘I was very unwell’
Stephen Mulhern appeared on Friday’s episode of Lorraine to talk about his new ITV series Accidental Tourist
10:47, 12 Dec 2025
Stephen Mulhern opened up during an appearance on Friday’s episode of Lorraine(Image: ITV)
Stephen Mulhern opened up during an appearance on Friday’s episode of Lorraine.
The presenter, 48, appeared on the ITV chat show to talk about his new series with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, Accidental Tourist, where he is sent to South Korea to ‘broaden his horizons’ and get out of his comfort zone.
A synopsis teases: “Throughout his travels, Ant & Dec will be checking in with Stephen from afar, taking their cue from viral clips and setting him quirky and often mischievous challenges to test his resolve and push his boundaries.
“These mean that Stephen will encounter epic locations, exotic cultures and cuisines, incredible people and places, and exciting activities he would never have chosen for himself.
“Will Ant & Dec help Stephen go on a journey of self-discovery, or will he just discover he was right all along?”
Stephen Mulhern opened up during an appearance on Friday’s episode of Lorraine(Image: ITV)
Talking about the new series on Friday’s Lorraine, Stephen recalled an incredible encounter with a fortune teller. The presenter said: “We go to see this fortune teller and she’s as famous as Simon Cowell in Korea!”
Stephen continued: “She told me stuff that she could not Google and it’s serious stuff.
“It was like, I was very unwell and I had to take some time off Saturday Night Takeaway, and she was telling me stuff that actually, I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. How do you know that?’ I’ve never spoke about it in interviews. This is why you’ve got to see the show.”
In 2022, Stephen addressed a mystery illness that forced him off air and unable to present on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
At the time, Stephen opened up to fans to tell them he was on doctor’s orders not to work – with a rare tweet explaining why he had been absent from TV screens.
The presenter, 48, appeared on the ITV chat show to talk about his new series with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, Accidental Tourist(Image: ITV)
He wrote: “Hello all, Sorry I’ve been quiet on here recently and thank you for all your lovely messages. I’ve had some time off and been resting up on doctors orders. I’m on the mend, I’m happy to say, and looking forward to getting back to work soon. In the meantime…
“I’ll put my feet up and watch Saturday Night Takeaway tonight with the rest of you lot. Please don’t miss me too much! Lots of love, Stephen. X”
Stephen Mulhern’s Accidental Tourist airs this Sunday at 9pm on ITV and ITV X.
