Tony Cowell
‘Fingers crossed, Ant will be back to his old self for next year’
The 12th - yes, 12th! - series of Britain’sGot Talent kicked off, and Stephen Mulhern, 41, was also back as host of spin-off show, Britain’s GotMoreTalent.
Here, the ITV presenter (and magician) spills the beans on who he thinks could win this year’s
BGT, bagging a cash prize and the chance to perform in front of the royal family.
He also talks to us about his good friend Ant McPartlin, who stepped down from his presenting duties with sidekick Declan Donnelly after pleading guilty to drink-driving last week…
Hi, Stephen! You lost your voice during the auditions and missed
filming – was that scary? I really panicked, because that has never happened to me before! I did pantomime over Christmas and, when I’d finished, I couldn’t speak. I saw a specialist, and he told me that if I didn’t rest my voice, I would never speak again. I was terrified and vowed that I would never do pantomime again. So, next year, I’ll spend Christmas with my family.
What was it like, knowing that the auditions were going on and you were missing out?
It was pretty horrible. I got a lovely message from Ant and Dec, but you just feel like you’re missing a limb. I know that sounds ridiculous but, because it’s always been us all together, to be missing from that was tough. At one point, I did say that they should get someone else to do the days I wasn’t there so that we still had content, but ITV said – and I took this as a huge compliment – that I’ve made the show my own, and there’s no other presenter they could see doing it in the same style as me.
You got a message from Simon, didn’t you?
I did. Simon texted me asking me if it was true, and I told him the details. He was really nice. Simon’s been nicer than he’s ever been in 12 years! We actually had a really good chat, and he said it was amazing how small things can put your life into perspective. He had his fall last year, and that made him take a step back and put his life in order of what’s important to him. It’s the same for me, which is why I’ve finished with panto. We’ve both taken stock a bit.
Dec is doing this without Ant for the first time. You’ve known them both personally for years – is Dec devastated about Ant’s recent problems?
I think that Dec has been incredible about the situation, and he’s doing so well on his own. Fingers crossed, Ant will get the treatment he needs and be
back to his old self for next year. But he does need the rest and to be left alone, and given the time to recover. He’s such a close friend and I am going to miss him on the live shows, but I know Dec will do a great job, just as he did on Saturday Night Takeaway.
Are there any surprises in store for the judges?
The genius thing this year is that the judges forget that they’re filmed 24/7 on set. So, we have the footage of all their conversations gossiping between auditions. It’ll never make it on to the main show, but we’re going to use it to play a game with them. For example, we’ll repeat things they’ve said, like, ‘She’s not really that nice in person’, and ask which of them said it and who they were talking about! It will be like Russian roulette. And yes, we expect there to be some red faces!
What can we expect from David [Walliams] and Simon this year?
The biggest clash of the titans at the moment is the fact that David got the OBE and Simon doesn’t have one, so Simon is furious. David also takes his best TV judge award from the NTAs everywhere with him, and that hasn’t gone down well with Simon, either!
The live shows this year are at Hammersmith Apollo – do you think that’s a good idea?
I think when you have 3,000 people in the audience, the atmosphere will be totally different. I also think it will be harder for the acts, because it sets them a bigger challenge.
Which acts do you think can win the show?
Well, I generally support the comedians and the magicians, but I think it could be another magic act that wins. There have been good singers, too, but I honestly think it’s going to be a variety act!