He’s the magician with more than a few tricks up his sleeve ... it's seasoned telly-tastic presenter Stephen Mulhern, who is also the owner of the dreamiest, bluest eyes in Britain.
Our gossip girl #BGTInsider cornered Mr Mulhern to chat about David’s practical jokes, why BGMT is so ruddy brill and the sweet treats the big boss has been buying him.
Sum up BGMT in a nutshell for us…
Britain’s Got More Talent is basically your one-stop shop for all things MORE. We never double-up on content shown on ITV, so everything you see is exclusive footage. And thanks to an access-all-areas pass, I get to snoop around backstage and spy on the Judges. Much like you, BGTInsider!
You and Simon seem to be getting along famously…
Simon is on great form – he’s filmed loads with us. The big boss even bought me a present this year, some fancy fudge. Err, thanks! It tasted grim and I palmed it off on Amanda.
So you’ve clearly worked your ‘magic’ on him…
Simon is the absolute best at what he does. Pssst! And here’s an exclusive…David Walliams told me that Simon being back on board was a deciding factor in him signing up to do the show.
Speaking of David, you two are fast becoming a double-act…
Ha – he’s such a wind-up merchant. When I first met him, we chatted for twenty minutes and afterwards he asked, “Sorry, what’s your name?” Since then, he makes a point of calling me a different name each time I see him. Right now, it’s “Stuart.”
What a cheeky monkey…
Tell me about it! I’ve had to resort to desperate measures and have a badge made to spell out my name in CAPITAL LETTERS. He’s a very intriguing character, you never know what you’re gonna get with him. He’s incredibly sympathetic towards contestants – I thought he’d take the Mickey non-stop but he hasn’t. He’s surprisingly emotional.
What about Alesha Dixon?
She’s so, so scandalous! Sorry, I had to get that in. She’s superb in that she can critique and comment authoritatively across dancing, singing and overall performance.
What are your biding memories from last year?
Ah, I felt so sorry for the Britney Spears impersonator, Lorna Bliss. I remember her turning up to the auditions all on her own. I wanted to give her a big hug. Little Ronan was a sweetheart, his vocals were a highlight. I loved The Entertainorator, Stuart Arnold. His Arnie impression wasn’t the greatest but what a character.
The contestants sometimes see you as an agony uncle, don’t they?
Yup. If a performance hasn’t gone down too well, the contestants get their right to reply on our show and they know I’m always on hand with a sympathetic ear.