Stephen Mulhern pulls out of penultimate episode of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway at last minute due to mystery illness

Stephen Mulhern pulled out of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend after falling ill.

The 47-year-old television presenter reportedly told producers on Saturday morning that he could not film that evening because he felt bad.

While he was absent from the show, the nature of his illness has not been revealed.

The last minute change meant that presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly would have an I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! segment with radio host Jordan North, 34.

A source close to Stephen said this The sun on Sunday: ‘Stephen was supposed to play a small part in the show, but unfortunately he was feeling a little too bad to perform.

The last minute change meant that presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly would have an I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! segment

“When he realized he would be too unwell to show up, he called first thing Saturday morning to let the team know.

“They were able to change the format and make it work without him.”

Stephen will still appear in Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway final episode in a special Farewell Spectacular.

A representative for Stephen told MailOnline: ‘Stephen was due to be involved in one of the sketches on tonight’s show but unfortunately he was unable to take part as he was feeling unwell. He’s looking forward to being back for the final next weekend.’

ITV declined to comment.

In 2022, Stephen took a long break from presenting after undergoing a medical procedure in hospital.

It comes as Stephen and Cat Deeley are eyed as guest presenters for Britain’s Got Talent.

New This Morning presenter Cat and Dancing On Ice presenter Stephen – who previously presented companion show Britain’s Got More Talent and spin-off program Britain’s Got Talent: The Ultimate Magician – are being eyed by producers to go on standby line up to cover Ant Mc Partlin on the live shows when his wife Anne-Marie Corbett goes into labor.

Stephen, 47, reportedly told producers on Saturday morning that he could not film that evening because he felt bad.

The couple are due to welcome their first child into the world in June, so ITV bosses fear Declan Donnelly could be left holding the fort if they don’t put a contingency plan in place.

A source said The sun on Sunday newspaper: ‘The timing is giving bosses a headache.

‘They are considering whether Dec would present alone if Anne-Marie were to give birth, or whether, time permitting, a guest presenter could step in.

‘Cat and Stephen, who the boys have worked with in the past, are frontrunners.’

Ant recently explained that he and Dec – who has Isla, five and 18-month-old Jack with wife Ali Astall – are keen to spend more time with their family, which led to them ‘pausing’ Saturday Night Takeaway after 20 series. .

He told Flaunt Magazine: ‘We’re doing the show and then Britain’s Got Talent, but on a more personal level part of the reason we’re pausing Takeaway is because we need a break ourselves, and we need to spend some time with our family.

‘We both have children that we need to spend time with for a while.

‘We need time to think and time to step back and look at the bigger picture and see where we are today.

It comes after Stephen and Cat Deeley (pictured) are reportedly in line to replace boyfriend Ant McPartlin on Britain’s Got Talent should his wife Anne-Marie Corbett go into labor

The host will become a father for the first time in June, to coincide with the competition’s live shows (Ant and Anne-Marie pictured in February)

“You know, like I said, ‘We’re turning 49, and what do we want to do next? What’s the next phase of our career?’

“And we have a lot of ideas and offers on the table, a lot of options for things we can do.

“But it’s about what we do next and where the next chapter begins. So that’s what we’re going to do when Saturday Night Takeaway is no longer possible.

“We’ll sit down, take some time and reevaluate everything.”