Stephen Mulhern has made a career out of being the nation’s unflappable showman — the cheeky magician, the smooth game-show host, the man who can charm a crowd without breaking a sweat.
But on ITV’s Accidental Tourist, audiences witnessed a version of Stephen they had never seen before: a man grieving, trembling, and learning to keep moving even while carrying heartbreak.
A challenge created by friends — and a test he didn’t see coming
The premise sounded simple enough: Ant and Dec secretly sign Stephen up for a globe-spanning adventure, choosing South Korea as the destination that would prise him away from every comfort he’s ever clung to.
But once cameras rolled, it became clear the challenge wasn’t really about food, flights, or fears — it was about the quiet emotional weight he had been avoiding since losing his father earlier in the year.
“We’re a family that sticks to what we know,” Stephen admitted at the start of the journey.
Then, almost whispering: “And I think that’s held me back.”
Grief he thought he had tucked away comes rushing back
The moment Stephen mentioned his dad, his whole expression shifted. The words caught in his throat, then broke entirely.
“If I told my dad about this… he passed away at the start of the year…”
Stephen stopped, unable to finish.
“I hope he’d be proud,” he finally said, tears falling.
For someone who has built his public image on humour and composure, the vulnerability was startling — and deeply moving.
South Korea forces him to confront fear, discomfort… and himself
From navigating unfamiliar cities to facing the foods and situations he has avoided his whole life, Stephen pushed himself further than he ever thought he could. But the emotional turning point arrived in the form of a white envelope secretly placed in his bag.
A letter from his mum that shattered him
Inside was a handwritten message from his mother — a quiet reminder of the magic he once believed in and the love that still surrounds him.
“Since you were small, you have always believed in magic,” she wrote.
“I hope you see the magic in this trip. Me and Daddy will be with you every step of the way.”
When Stephen reached the final line — “Love you forever, Mum and Dad” — he couldn’t continue. He folded into himself, shoulders shaking, the grief he had avoided now impossible to hold back.
Viewers respond with overwhelming support
Social media lit up in minutes:
-
“Stephen, your courage is extraordinary. Your dad would be beaming.”
-
“Watching him face fear and heartbreak at the same time… my respect for him skyrocketed.”
-
“He’s always made us laugh — now he’s making the whole country cry.”
Many praised the episode for showing “the real Stephen,” not just the polished performer.
A journey that was never really about travel
What began as a light-hearted celebrity challenge evolved into something far deeper:
a man learning to live through grief rather than around it, honouring a father he loved fiercely, and discovering that bravery isn’t the absence of fear — it’s shaking and stepping forward anyway.
Accidental Tourist is streaming now on ITVX, and viewers are already calling for a follow-up. After witnessing this side of Stephen Mulhern, it’s clear the journey is far from over.
Bài viết ‘I Hope He’d Be Proud’: Stephen Mulhern’s Unexpectedly Raw Journey on Accidental Tourist Leaves Viewers in Tears đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày HOT.