Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby mark 20th anniversary with a sweet throwback video of their TV debut – just days before they reunite for Dancing On Ice
It couldn’t be more fitting that Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern are celebrating 20 years since they made their TV debut together – just four days before they reunite for Dancing on Ice.
On Sunday, Holly, 42, will make her long-awaited return to TV alongside her long-time boyfriend Stephen, 46, after leaving This Morning following a kidnap threat in October.
From January 2004 to July 2006, the former This Morning presenter and Deal or No Deal star presented children’s show Ministry of Mayhem on CITV.
To mark this monumental occasion, Stephen posted a video to his Instagram of their very first episode together, in which contestants had to catapult cream pies with a skateboard.
He wrote: ‘Unbelievable, the very first Ministry of Mayhem aired 20 years ago today! I loved the years I spent doing this with Holly Willoughby! We’re back on our screens this Sunday, live at 6.30pm, doing something just as slick… #DancingOnIce’
It couldn’t be more fitting that Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern are celebrating 20 years since they made their TV debut together – just four days before they reunite for Dancing on Ice
From January 2004 to July 2006, the former This Morning presenter (right) and the Deal or No Deal star (left) hosted children’s show Ministry of Mayhem on CITV (pictured on the show in 2005)
Both began their on-screen careers on ITV’s Children’s channels, which launched their long and celebrated journey as British television presenters.
Ministry of Mayhem was renamed Holly and Stephen’s Saturday Showdown when it returned after the Christmas holidays in 2006 – Holly was 25 and Stephen was 29.
In a clip that went viral, the pair kissed a total of five times under the mistletoe in one episode and Holly reflected on her time on Kid’s TV in 2019: ‘There were times when we went straight from the hotel bar to the broadcast. .
‘Everyone on children’s television drinks until five in the morning. If you mess up, no one will care. Things got a little too wild when my chest popped out of my dress.
The show was axed in July that year and Holly went on to present the CD UK and then made her Dancing on Ice debut alongside former TV husband Philip Schofield in 2006.
Phil and Holly’s chemistry was a hit and after a few stints presenting an X-Factor spin-off and Celebrity Juice, Holly eventually joined Phil on the This Morning sofa for a 14-year career there.
Meanwhile, Stephen presented other ITV shows including Britain’s Got More Talent, 2013 game show Catchphrase and last year’s revival of Deal Or No Deal.
To mark this monumental occasion, Stephen posted a video to his Instagram of their very first episode together, in which contestants had to catapult cream pies with a skateboard.
He wrote: ‘Unbelievable, the very first Ministry of Mayhem aired 20 years ago today! I loved the years I spent doing this with Holly Willoughby! We’re back on our screens this Sunday, live at 6.30pm, doing something just as slick… #DancingOnIce’
Both began their on-screen careers on ITV’s children’s channels, which launched their long and celebrated journey as British television presenters.
Ministry of Mayhem was renamed Holly and Stephens Saturday Showdown when it returned after the Christmas holidays in 2006 – Holly was 25 and Stephen was 29
In a clip that went viral, the pair kissed a total of five times under the mistletoe in one episode and Holly reflected on her time on Kid’s TV in 2019: ‘There were times when we went straight from the hotel bar to the broadcast. (pictured in 2005)
The show was axed in July that year and Holly went on to present the UK CD before making her Dancing on Ice debut alongside former TV husband Philip Schofield in 2006 (pictured together in March 2023).
Stephen is briefly reunited with Holly, who he describes as a ‘real mate’ on a few occasions, including replacing Phil on Dancing on Ice in 2022 when the now disgraced former presenter had Covid-19.
Stephen is briefly reunited with Holly, who he describes as a ‘real mate’ on a few occasions, including replacing Phil on Dancing on Ice in 2022 when the now disgraced former presenter had Covid.
Although Stephen’s appearance was a one-off, Holly has played the role for most of the show’s existence.
Holly co-hosted the show with Phillip from its inception in 2006 until 2011.
Christine Lampard then replaced Holly for the next three series until the show ended in 2014, but she returned for the 2018 revival and has remained in post ever since.
Stephen quickly emerged as the favorite to take over as her co-host following Schofield’s dismissal, saying it would be ‘great’ to do so.
His predecessor was fired after admitting to lying about a romantic relationship with a younger former colleague.