Stephen Mulhern Breaks Down on Camera as He Opens Up About Losing His Dad — A Moment That Stopped Accidental Tourist in Its Tracks
Stephen Mulhern is known for his warmth, humour and boundless energy on screen. But on Accidental Tourist, viewers saw a very different side of the ITV favourite — one raw, vulnerable moment that left the nation emotional.
The In For a Penny host, 48, was sent on a fear-confronting journey by close friends Ant and Dec, who planned a trip designed to push him far beyond his comfort zone. Their destination: South Korea — where Stephen was forced to face not only his deep-rooted fears of food and the sea, but also a grief he’s been quietly carrying.
Early in the hour-long episode, Stephen spoke candidly about how much he relies on familiarity — something he says runs through his entire family.
“As a family, we know what we like, and that’s what we do,” he admitted to the camera.
“I am scared. I find my phobias so frustrating. But it’s time to make a change — and the change is now.”
But it was when the conversation turned to his late father, Christopher, who passed away in November last year, that Stephen’s composure finally broke.
“If I was to tell my dad this…” he began, before his voice cracked.
“My dad passed away at the start of the year… sorry.”
Struggling to hold back tears, Stephen paused, whispering:
“He wouldn’t believe it.”
Dabbing his eyes with a tissue, he added quietly:
“I hope… he’d be proud.”
A Letter That Opened the Floodgates
Stephen’s emotions surfaced again shortly after arriving in Korea, when he was handed a handwritten letter from his mum — words that clearly meant the world to him.
Reading aloud, he said:
“My darling Stevie, when you read this letter you will be in Korea.
Since you were small you have always believed in magic, and from the bottom of my heart I hope you see the magic in this trip.Give it your best shot as you always do. And 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.”
As he finished reading, Stephen was visibly overwhelmed — grief and love colliding in a moment that felt painfully real.
Viewers Left in Tears — and Full of Pride
The response from viewers was immediate and emotional, with many praising Stephen for pushing himself while still mourning such a profound loss.
One viewer wrote on X:
“Oh my word… you are much braver than I am. I’m so proud of you, Stephen — and your dad would be too. Your mum’s letter had me in floods.”
Another added:
“I want to applaud Stephen Mulhern for Accidental Tourist. He’s overcoming so many fears and absolutely smashing it. His dad would be incredibly proud.”
A third commented:
“Absolutely fantastic viewing. It’s so lovely seeing a deeper side of you — everyone in this house loves you even more now. You smashed Korea.”
A Different Kind of Courage
Accidental Tourist may have been about confronting fears — but for Stephen Mulhern, this journey became something far more personal.
It was about grief.
About honouring a parent who shaped him.
And about proving, even in the midst of loss, that courage sometimes means simply showing up — tears and all.
For viewers, it wasn’t just compelling television.
It was heartbreakingly human.
