Stephen Mulhern pays moving tribute to late father during ITV Royal Variety Performance with sweet gesture

The Royal Variety Performance was back on screens on Sunday evening for the 2024 edition of the annual bash.

Hosted by Amanda Holden and Alan Carr, the traditional show saw all kinds of acts take to the stage, with one coming in the form of presenter and comedian Stephen Mulhern, who added a touching spin to his magic trick performance.

Mulhern, 47, is normally seen hosting game shows but is also a magician, and opted to share the skill in front of His Majesty King Charles III, who as per tradition was in attendance at the London event.

At one point, Mulhern began to perform some tricks and illusions for the sizable audience.

His act also had the crowd laughing, with the In For A Penny host jokingly scolding a member of the audience after including him in one of the acts.

Explaining he had a detonator that would “change the show,” he told the audience: “We need somebody very responsible to look after this!”

Picking a spectator from the crowd, he instructed the gentleman to press the button at any moment from Mulhern’s performance he finds funny.

After showcasing a trick involving tearing up a newspaper before somehow producing it again in its former condition, he commented: “I know what you’re thinking.

“Why would I do such a small trick here at the Royal Albert Hall in front of millions of people watching at home?

“Well, there’s a reason I do this trick, I don’t want to bring the atmosphere down, but my grandad taught me how to do this trick when I was just 11 years old. Sadly, my grandad passed away two weeks ago…”

At that moment, the audience member supposedly pressed the button, causing a celebratory atmosphere to launch on stage, complete with streamers and lights.

“Stop this! That was the wrong time my friend! What the hell were you thinking?” Mulhern roared.

He then shoved the man behind a curtain before performing a few more ticks, with the final illusion involving Holden being levitated.

At the end of his jokey performance, he bid farewell to the audience before leaving on a more poignant note as he remarked: “That was for you, Dad.”

Mulhern’s father Christopher died earlier this year, and the Catchphrase host hasn’t publicly acknowledged the loss until Sunday’s magic act.

News of Mulhern’s grief was revealed last month after it was reported he’d collapsed while out for dinner and was taken to hospital.

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A statement at the time noted Mulhern had deeply impacted by the loss.

It also confirmed the presenter had undergone a medical procedure earlier that day, with the incident appearing to be a reaction to the anaesthetic.

A source said: “Stephen has had an incredibly tough time over the past few weeks. His beloved father recently passed away which has hit him hard and has been understandably very stressful.

“In addition, he had a procedure which took place yesterday. Following the anaesthetic that was administered, he had a few drinks which made him unwell, and he was taken in to hospital as a precaution.”