Stephen Mulhern recently made his emotional return to television in a special program titled The Accidental Tourist, marking his first appearance since the passing of his father, Christopher. This one-off travel documentary, set to air on ITV1 and ITVX, offers a rare glimpse into the more vulnerable and personal side of the beloved 48-year-old presenter.
In the show, Stephen is taken on a surprise trip to South Korea by his longtime friends and co-stars from Saturday Night Takeaway, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. The journey pushes Stephen far beyond his usual boundaries—particularly when it comes to trying unfamiliar and often extreme local foods. The experience was particularly intense because the filming happened shortly after the death of his father, making the emotional weight of the trip even heavier.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Stephen revealed that this was a unique experience for him: “No one’s ever seen me cry on television. But it was kind of refreshing not to be hidden behind a traditional TV format. I’ve never done anything like this. People have seen me on TV for 25 years, but they don’t really know who I am when I’m off-screen. They don’t know if I’m in a relationship, what I’m like at home. This show is very personal—I’m at the heart of it, and that was a bit scary.”
He added that the filming process was raw and unfiltered, capturing every moment, including those when he was completely out of his element. Stephen described the project as a deeply personal one that he’s incredibly proud of—especially considering it took three years for his friends to convince him to take part. However, he expressed deep sorrow that his father never got the chance to see it. “That’s the only thing I’m gutted about—my dad had just passed away, and he never saw it.”
Initially, Stephen was reluctant to do the series, which has drawn comparisons to An Idiot Abroad, a comedic travel series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. However, unlike that show’s star Karl Pilkington, who was often thrown into absurd and comedic situations, Stephen’s journey had a far more emotional tone due to the timing and his personal circumstances.
Ant and Dec believed Stephen would be the perfect participant for the show because of his limited travel experience and notoriously plain diet—his trips have mostly been limited to Florida, and he’s not accustomed to adventurous cuisine. Reflecting on the South Korean food, Stephen didn’t hold back. “The food was horrific,” he admitted. “We tried things like octopus, fish penis, stuff from the bottom of the sea, and this worm that squirts water when you squeeze it.”
The experience had a lasting impact on him physically as well. “When I came back, I couldn’t eat for two and a half weeks. I just couldn’t stomach anything—I ended up losing half a stone.”
Overall, The Accidental Tourist promises to show a side of Stephen Mulhern that audiences have never seen before—one that’s emotional, honest, and completely out of his comfort zone.