Stephen Mulhern has revealed the ‘most horrific moment of his life’ as he opened up on his new documentary series that will see him face some of his biggest fears.
The TV presenter will travel to South Korea in new series Accidental Tourist, which sees him attempt feats he’s never tried before, with the help of pals Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who put him up to the challenge.
Catchphrase host Stephen, 47, took to Lorraine on Friday morning to open up on what viewers can expect to see, admitting he was driven to VOMIT tackling one fear, and asked to strip naked in another.
He told Christine Lampard: ‘I know it’s breakfast time, but I try a prawn [for the first time], and I’m virtually physically sick, it was so meaty. For me it’s a massive thing.
‘We go to a traditional Korean massage please, and I go to the driver, “well, what’s it like?” and someone’s translating as he’s replying, and he’s like to me, “all you need to do is take all your clothes off”.
‘It was the most horrific moment of my life. He bent me in positions that I never knew I could – I was like a contortionist. Bendy Wendy!
Stephen Mulhern has revealed the ‘most horrific moment of his life’ as he opened up on his new documentary series that will see him facing some of his biggest fears
The TV presenter will travel to South Korea in new series Accidental Tourist, and opened up to Lorraine’s Christine Lampard about the experience
‘We also go and see a fortune teller, who is as famous as Simon Cowell in Korea, she told me stuff that she couldn’t have Googled, and it’s serious stuff.’
For Stephen, the experience sparked a heartbreaking realisation that his fans have likely never seen the ‘real him’ over his 20-year career presenting on TV.
He continued: ‘We were going to do this three years ago, but I lost my nerve, I just didn’t feel ready for it.
‘I liked to be in my comfort zone but now, I’ve realised, if you do try other stuff it can open your eyes, and it’s helped me a massive amount, honestly.
‘In terms of trying stuff now, I know this is going to sound really silly… It’s not like I’m A Celeb… but it’s going to be very relatable for people, at some points during the show they might go, “I’m like that”.
‘The reality is, I think people assume it’s going to be a funny show, we’re all going to have a good laugh, but actually, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions.
‘It’s funny, it’s very emotional, and you’re going to see me not hosting a show but just being myself which bizarrely, I’ve never really just been out there doing my own thing.
‘I’ve learned a lot because I’ve never really sat there and thought to myself, “what do I want to do?” I love doing TV, and I love doing stage performances, love the game shows, but to have time and go, “Actually, why don’t you give a bit more time for your family, and for yourself?”‘
Stephen said the experience sparked a heartbreaking realisation that his fans have likely never seen the ‘real him’ over his 20-year career presenting on TV
Stephen admitted he was driven to VOMIT tackling one fear, and asked to strip naked in another as he took to a Korean spa
There’s one realisation that Stephen is sure of. He added: ‘I’ve had people ask me, “are you going to do I’m A Celeb now?” What do you reckon?!
‘Without question [I’d do this again] because I’ve only learned a little bit about myself, but it would take a bit of time. I’m over the moon.’
It comes after Stephen, who is one of Britain’s best-loved presenters, admitted the new show would see him try new foods, cultures, emotions, and the terror that has gripped him all his life… swimming in the sea.
He recently described himself as ‘like a 70-year-old man in a 47-year-old body’, admitting he was fearful of trying anything that is out of his comfort zone.
Stephen revealed in a teaser of the show: ‘I think this is the most exposing thing I’ve ever done on TV. This isn’t me presenting. This is me being myself. And that’s something people have never seen before.’
Having begun his career as a magician, winning talent competitions and performing on the London cabaret circuit before being spotted by ITV, Stephen became a household name fronting hit shows, including Britain’s Got More Talent, Deal Or No Deal, Catchphrase, and Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
But Stephen has kept his life predictable, including always returning to the same holiday destinations of Florida and Portugal with mum Maureen, and his siblings.
‘We’ve always done the same thing. Same places, same food, same pattern,’ he said, as Ant and Dec tease him affectionately, marvelling that he won’t even try hummus.
Stephen will try a prawn for the first time in the documentary that will air on ITV and ITVX
Stephen recently described himself as ‘like a 70-year-old man in a 47-year-old body’, admitting he was fearful of trying anything that is out of his comfort zone
Their good-natured ribbing frames the heart of the series: the realisation that Stephen’s avoidance wasn’t quirkiness but fear of the unfamiliar.
‘I’ve been frightened of food, scared of strange places, terrified of the sea,’ he admitted. ‘There’s never really been any risk in my life. I’ve never had the guts.’
Accidental Tourist begins with Ant and Dec plotting how to prise Stephen out of his routines, admitting that he’s ‘odd’ and ‘stuck in his ways’.
Thinking that if they don’t push him, no one will, they come up with an inspired solution: send him to South Korea, a country of live-fish eaters, fearless freedivers, naked bath houses and spiritual rituals.
A stunned Stephen revealed: ‘What do they eat in Korea? Cabbage, bean sprouts?’ he asks. ‘I’m a little bit worried. I think there’s going to be a lot of tears.’
The most intense moment comes when Stephen visits a Korean mudang, a shamanic healer who tells him something only known to his close friends and family – that he was seriously ill three years ago.
‘It was very, very serious… a massive operation. I’ve never discussed anything about my personal health and I was just like, “Oh my God”,’ he said.
The mudang then performs a bizarre ritual involving a pair of his worn underpants – used because they’ve been close to his body – saying it will protect him for a year.
The TV presenter will travel to South Korea in new series Accidental Tourist, which sees him attempt things he’s never tried before
The underwear is wrapped around a wooden fish and tied up with coloured threads. She beats his back with the wooden fish, clunks wooden knives around his body and a fire stick is waved over him.
He’s rattled but said: ‘I’ve definitely had a spiritual experience. There is something she’s done that’s made me feel better.’
The show also had Stephen reflecting on the devastating loss of his father in November last year, and the health scare weeks later when he fainted in a pizza restaurant and was taken to hospital.
And it empowers him to tackle his food phobia and his fear of the sea – and for the latter he heads to Geoje Island to join freedivers, who don’t use oxygen tanks.
As for the future, he said: ‘If I can be myself on screen like this, then maybe that’s the direction I go in now. It feels like a new chapter.
‘I’m over the moon I did it. To change a pattern in your life is a big deal. Taking a chance is sometimes worth the risk. And I’ve only found that out from going to Korea.
‘If I can do it, someone who could barely try a prawn, then honestly, anyone can.’
Accidental Tourist airs Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Source: Daily Mail