TV presenter Stephen Mulhern will take a step back from hosting The Big Soap Quiz, for this year at least, while he mourns the death of his father Christopher – and recovers from a health scare of his own.
Stephen reportedly “reacted badly” while at a Pizza Express restaurant last week. The Deal Or No Deal presenter was hospitalised as a precaution.
He’d had a procedure earlier in the day. And there are claims that the anaesthetic he was given for it appears to have reacted badly with the beverages he consumed with his meal.
Needless to say, he’s had a tough week, and deserves some time off. As a result, Sally Lindsay will step in for him on the quiz.
Sally Lindsay to replace Stephen Mulhern on The Big Soap Quiz
Stephen Mulhern was due to present The Big Soap Quiz at the end of this year, but he’s had to take a step back from his professional responsibilities.
The veteran presenter has had a tough time of it since his father’s death.
A representative for Stephen said last week: “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.
“On top of this, he had a procedure on Wednesday, November 27.
“Following the anaesthetic that was administered, he had a few drinks which made him unwell and he was taken in to hospital as a precaution. He is now back home recovering.”
As a result, TV Zone has now reported that Sally Lindsay would step into Stephen’s shoes and host ITV’s The Big Soap Quiz 2024.
The Big Soap Quiz sees cast members from Coronation Street and Emmerdale go head to head in a festive showdown.
Stephen Mulhern’s dad’s death ‘hit him hard’
Further explaining what happened on Wednesday, The Sun quotes an anonymous source as saying Stephen Mulhern had taken himself “off for a quiet, solo dinner that evening”.
He had “a few drinks” and “reacted incredibly badly. He’s only human, and his dad’s death has hit him hard.
“Stephen immediately felt unwell and concerned staff came over, and called 999. Paramedics checked him over and took him to hospital as a precaution. He was also put on the phone to his mum to reassure her that he was okay,” they then added.
Sally steps into Stephen’s shoes
Sally Lindsay will replace him as the host of ITV’s The Big Quiz. She rose to fame playing Shelley Unwin in Coronation Street between 2001 and 2006.
She was a regular panellist on Loose Women from 2011 to 2014. Sally then presented Sally Lindsay’s Posh Sleepover from 2021 to 2022.
One ITV viewer aired their thoughts on X, referring to The Big Soap Quiz’s new presenter as “Queen Sally”, and celebrating that she is hosting their “fave special of the year”.
Read more: Stephen Mulhern halts Deal or No Deal and apologises as player left in tears
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