Stephen Mulhern has shown audiences many sides of himself over the years — the prankster, the presenter, the entertainer who always keeps his cool.
But on Accidental Tourist, viewers witnessed something far more vulnerable: a son still grieving the loss of his father while pushing himself into situations that left him visibly trembling.
The ITV series, secretly masterminded by his close friends Ant and Dec, sent the In For a Penny host halfway across the world to South Korea — a destination designed to force him out of the comfort zones he has clung to his entire life.
‘We’re a family that sticks to what we know’
Opening up early in the programme, Stephen, 48, admitted he and his family had always avoided the unfamiliar.
“We know what we like, and that’s what we do,” he confessed, before acknowledging how much those habits have held him back.
“I’m scared. My phobias frustrate me. But something has to change.”
What no one expected was how deeply the journey would tie into the grief he still carries.
A father’s death that still feels too close
Stephen’s voice cracked the moment he mentioned his late father, Christopher, who died just months before filming began.
“If I told my dad about this… he passed away at the start of the year…”
The words dissolved, overwhelmed by emotion.
“He wouldn’t believe it,” he whispered, wiping tears from his cheeks.
“I hope he’d be proud.”
It was a rare, intimate glimpse of a man millions see as unshakeable.
Korea pushes him — and opens him
Once in South Korea, Stephen confronted some of his biggest fears, from unusual foods to open water. But nothing hit him harder than a small white envelope tucked into his belongings — a letter from his mum.
A mother’s words that broke him open
“Since you were small you have always believed in magic,” she wrote.
“I hope you see the magic in this trip. Me and Daddy will be with you every step of the way.”
By the time he reached the final line — “Love you forever, Mum and Dad” — Stephen was unable to speak. The grief of losing his father collided with the reassurance of still being loved and supported, and he crumbled.
Viewers rally behind him
The reaction online was immediate and emotional.
One viewer posted:
“Stephen, you’re braver than you realise. Your dad would be proud.”
Another wrote:
“He’s facing fear and grief at the same time — and smashing it.”
Many said they felt they had seen “a deeper side” of Stephen than ever before.
A journey far bigger than a TV challenge
What began as a travel experiment became something profoundly human: a man wrestling with fear, grief, and the hope that his courage might honour the father he still aches for.
Accidental Tourist is available now on ITVX — and viewers are already asking for a second episode.
