Get Your Act Together host Stephen Mulhern is enjoying life as a sought-after star

“It’s bizarre that I’m now able to call Phillip Schofield a pal”

You wait and hope for a new TV series and then you have so many you’re never off the telly!

Stephen Mulhern has just added ITV’s new Sunday night show Get Your Act Together to an impressively full CV.

Catchphrase, Big Star’s Little Star and Sunday Night At The London Palladium are just three of his other shows.

But while there’s no doubt that Stephen’s TV’s current golden boy, big-headed boastfulness and casual complacency aren’t part of his make-up.

He says his spell in the spotlight is something he was discussing just before we got together for our chat.

“Just half an hour ago I was speaking to my brother about this stuff,” Stephen says.

“I’ve got two brothers and a sister and my parents who are market traders are still alive. Everyone’s so pleased at how things are going.

“Just before Christmas we were together and said that these were good times and we mustn’t ever forget them. We’re all savouring it.

“You know, if it did all stop, I’d have to go back to the market. And honestly, that’s absolutely fine I think that’s why I’m enjoying it.”

Through the shows on that impressive CV, Stephen finds himself regularly hanging out with British TV’s A-list.

Once again it’s something that obviously still tickles him, recalling the kids TV background beginnings of many.

“Listen,” he says, warming to the theme, “I remember growing up at about the age of 12 or 13 and watching Phillip Schofield in the broom cupboard.

“Now I’m able to call Phillip a mate and I still find that slightly bizarre.

“And I remember doing continuity links at ITV when Ant and Dec started their Saturday morning show, watching them while I was in Birmingham working for Carlton.

“I didn’t know either of them at that point. Now they’re mates and I just think it’s a lovely time.

“The difference with Holly Willoughby is that we started our presenting career at the same time and did Holly And Stephen’s Saturday Showdown, so we’ve been mates a long time.”

Get Your Act Together sees a selection of well-known names try to learn new talents, from fire dancing and ventriloquism to acrobatics, juggling and plate spinning.

Some like Ray Quinn, last year’s winner of the all-star Dancing On Ice, are reality veterans. Even Ann Widdecombe was a Strictly Come Dancing sensation, albeit not for the most positive of reasons.

But famously private Likely Lads and New Tricks star James Bolam’s involvement has raised some eyebrows.

So has how much the celebs have put in to mastering their new talents, under the eagle eye of expert acts with whom they’re paired.

“My fear was that they wouldn’t take it seriously but I couldn’t have been more wrong,” insists Stephen.

“They compete against each other and none of them want to look stupid.

“And the professionals are putting their reputations on the line so nobody wants to look like an idiot.”

While he’s often taken over previously established shows, Get Your Act Together is new.

Reviews have hardly been gushing and Stephen’s aware of the spotlight being on him, especially after the BBC’s Tumble was a ratings flop.

“I’m not going to lie, there is pressure but I think the bonus with our show is that the acts are very different.

“I don’t want to have a pop at Tumble but it’s not everyone doing acrobatics.

“DOI was just ice skating but the secret was that we all wanted to see people fall over!”

As a former magician who is looking to show off his skills in the final bringing old fashioned variety acts to the nation is a thrill.

But he’s already moving on, currently on the road again with Britain’s Got Talent for his ITV2 spin-off show.

“I love it but it’s the hardest show I do because it’s non-stop,” he adds.

“One little nugget we always have a competition for Davis Walliams and this year they’ve got dogs. David and dogs… I can’t wait.”