TV presenter Stephen Mulhern was overcome with emotion while filming his new ITV programme, breaking down in tears as he spoke about the recent death of his father.
Emotional Confrontation on Accidental Tourist
The Deal or No Deal host, 48, opens up about his heartbreaking personal loss in ITV's Accidental Tourist, a one-off travel special produced by Ant and Dec. Filmed in South Korea, the show sees Mulhern facing his food phobias and a deep-seated fear of the sea. However, the most poignant moment comes when he mentions his late dad, Christopher.
Speaking directly to the camera, Mulhern explained his family's habits before his voice began to waver. "If I was to tell my dad this, my dad passed away at the start of the year…sorry," he said, struggling to compose himself. He whispered, "He wouldn’t believe it. I hope… he’d be proud."
A Tearjerking Letter from Home
The emotional journey continued when Mulhern read a heartfelt letter from his mother after arriving in Korea. The note, addressed to "My darling Stevie," expressed her hopes that he would find magic in the trip, just as he had believed in it since childhood.
"On that note my darling, me and daddy will be with you every step of the way. Get back quick, love you forever, Mum and Dad," the letter concluded, leaving the presenter visibly moved once more.
Confronting a Lifelong Fear of the Sea
The challenges of the travel show pushed Mulhern to his limits. After a 13-hour flight, a traditional bath house experience, and a visit to a fish market, he was tasked with diving in the sea to search for Pineapple fish—a prospect that filled him with dread.
"I've never swum in the sea, even as a kid," he confessed to the cameras before the dive. "Swimming I love, but only a swimming pool, because I know it's clean and I can see inside the water here. You can't see what's in it." He added his aversion to anything touching his feet in the murky water.
Stepping into the sea with local divers, Mulhern quickly became overwhelmed. Before he was even knee-deep, he suffered a meltdown, sobbing and urging producers to stop filming. "It’s all going so fast, but I really want to do it," he said through tears, highlighting the intense personal battles featured in the programme.
Accidental Tourist airs on ITV and ITVX on Sunday at 9pm.
