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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Kirsten McStay & Katherine Heslop

Stephen Mulhern's short romance with EastEnders star and that Holly Willoughby kiss

Stephen Mulhern has been on our TVs for over two decades, fronting many programmes and game shows.

The 46-year-old was recently announced as the new Deal or no Deal host and is currently presenting the fifth series of In for a Penny.

Despite being a well loved presenter, Stephen's personal life is kept pretty under wraps as the former CITV presenter likes to keep his romantic life away from the spotlight.

Stephen has admitted he keeps "myself to myself", much like his showbiz pals Ant and Dec, who keep their family lives on the down low, writes The Mirror.

The presenter's Instagram page is filled mostly with hilarious videos or work related clips, but he does share the odd snippet of his home life.

During a 2019 interview, Stephen said he would "never do a reality show", adding: "I would never do Dancing On Ice or I'm A Celebrity … because I do like to keep myself to myself."

Stephen very rarely talks about his love life, admitting in 2018 that his busy career gets in the way of finding love.

Stephen Mulhern with showbiz friends Ant & Dec on Saturday Night Takeaway (Kieron McCarron/ITV/Shutterstock)

Stephen's former partners include EastEnders actress Emma Barton, 45, who plays Honey Mitchell.

According to reports Stephen and Emma dated from 2008 to 2011 after meeting in a pantomime production of Snow White, with Emma playing Snow White and Stephen playing her best pal Muddles. It's understood the pair formed a close bond while working together.

The couple kept their relationship out of the limelight and spent three years together before a mutual split in 2011.

Stephen later revealed the romance had come to a "natural end".

Emma is known for playing Honey Mitchell (BBC/Kieron McCarron)

Stephen and his good friend Holly Willoughby shared a kiss when they presented Saturday Showdown on CITV together during the early 2000s.

While hosting a Christmas special of Saturday Showdown together, Stephen gave Holly a present with a green elf hat and some mistletoe inside.

"Hurray for me! I can kiss all of the boys in the world all of the time," she rejoiced before singing: "Tis the season to kiss Holly, fa la la la la la la la la!"

But when Stephen leaned in for a kiss on the lips she told him: "No! Stephen, you don't count!"

Stephen replied: "What do you mean, I don't count? Whoever you are under the mistletoe with you must kiss".

After giving her another Christmas kiss, Holly exclaimed: "Don't wear my lips out, I am going to be kissing Anthony from Blue soon..."

As Stephen went on to kiss her another three times over the course of the show, Holly took the hat off and said to Stephen: "You are definitely on the naughty list!"

He told Celebs Now in 2018: "Last time I went on a date was about four years ago.

He jokingly added: "That makes me sound really sad! I need a life. I need to stop working so much."

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