TV favourite Stephen Mulhern has finally opened up about Holly Willoughby’s unexpected decision to walk away from their joint project — leaving him stunned and forced to carry on without her.
The two stars, known for their warm on-screen chemistry and longtime friendship, had recently joined forces to co-host the relaunch of ITV’s You Bet!, a nostalgic game show once fronted by the legendary Bruce Forsyth. But following just one season, fans were shocked to learn that Holly had abruptly stepped down — and now, Stephen is sharing his side of the story.
Speaking candidly in a new interview with TV Biz, Stephen admitted, “I’m gutted she’s not doing You Bet! with me, but I’ve had time to think about it… Bruce did it on his own. Maybe it’s meant to be.”
Although he’s trying to look on the bright side, Stephen didn’t hide his disappointment over Holly’s decision. “She just said: ‘Look, sorry, I can’t do it.’ She told me face to face. She said: ‘I’m gutted, but it’s all over.’”
While the exact reason behind Holly’s withdrawal remains unclear, Stephen confessed: “I don’t know what happened.” His honest response has only deepened the mystery and stirred speculation among fans.
Still, he remains optimistic: “We’ve filmed one episode already without Holly, and it felt very comfortable. Maybe it is just a one-presenter show.”
Despite the blow, Stephen is busier than ever. Besides hosting You Bet!, he’s also at the helm of ITV hits Deal or No Deal and Catchphrase. And now, he’s taking a leap into something entirely new — a travelogue series with longtime pals Ant & Dec.
But stepping out of his comfort zone hasn’t come easy.
“I don’t travel much,” he revealed. “This new show pushed me hard. I cried a lot. It brought out so much emotion.”
Even without Holly by his side, Stephen is determined to make it work — but the pain of her departure still lingers.
What really happened behind the scenes? Fans can only guess.
source: www.entertainmentdaily.com
