Celebrity Catchphrase host Stephen Mulhern recently revealed he harbours a secret sadness about the entertainment industry.
Stephen, who helms You Bet! and Deal or No Deal this weekend (December 7/8), 47, started out as a Redcoat and magician at Butlin’s’ Minehead resort. Since then he’s gone from strength to strength, remaining booked and busy on shows such as Saturday Night Takeaway and Dancing On Ice.
However, he recently addressed the lack of old-school entertainers currently in the business, admitting that things just “aren’t the same” any more.
Lack of ‘real entertainers’
Speaking back in June, he told The Times: “Most of our family holidays when I was growing up were at nearby seaside resorts such as Margate and Southend. Our first big trip was to Butlin’s in Minehead, Somerset, when I was 11.
“I loved it. I always wanted to be a Redcoat, and I was scouted in a Butlin’s talent show aged 16 after one of the acts failed to turn up. Butlin’s is a proper British institution.”
He then added: “Not wishing to sound like an old man, but entertainers are very few and far between now, even in places such as Tenerife and Las Vegas. There was real entertainment back then and it’s not the same any more.”
Stephen Mulhern hasn’t looked back since getting his big break
Since getting his break when he was a teenager, Stephen hasn’t looked back.
He started his TV presenting career at Children’s ITV (CITV) in 2001. He stayed at the network to present programmes including Catchphrase and Dancing on Ice with Holly Willoughby. He’s also hosting You Bet! with Holly this weekend.
Stephen told Butlin’s: “I’ve been so lucky, from kids shows and primetime to Saturday night TV, but if I had to pick one, it would be Catchphrase. It’s something I watched growing up and the team are amazing.”
Read more: ‘Nervous’ Stephen Mulhern announces new ITV travel show with Ant and Dec
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