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TV Quickfire: Britain's Got More Talent presenter Stephen Mulhern

Stephen Mulhern presents Britain's Got More Talent, the sister show to the ITV talent contest. He tells Georgia Humphreys about overcoming a health scare and how judge Simon Cowell has 'mellowed out'

Stephen Mulhern &ndash; blue boxers are his lucky charm<br />&nbsp;
Stephen Mulhern – blue boxers are his lucky charm
 
Stephen Mulhern – blue boxers are his lucky charm
 

HOW HAVE YOU FOUND FILMING THE 12TH SERIES OF BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT SO FAR?

I'm going to go as far as to say it's stronger than ever. It never ceases to amaze me where the acts come from. And interestingly, Simon [Cowell] has been nicer than he's ever been in 12 years.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BROUGHT ON THIS CHANGE IN SIMON?

I don't know. It's just like he's really mellowed out. He's more relaxed, I think maybe he's just taken stock and gone, 'I've got a lovely boy, I've got an amazing career, the shows are doing all right'... All the judges have got on better than they've ever got on.

YOU HAD TO MISS FOUR DAYS OF FILMING AUDITIONS THIS YEAR – WHAT HAPPENED?

I went to the doctor and she could clearly hear that I couldn't talk so she sent me to an ear, nose and throat specialist. They put this big camera down my throat and I was told me that if I didn't stop speaking completely for two weeks then I could permanently damage my vocal cords. So, I couldn't talk at all, not even a whisper because apparently that's even worse than trying to talk.

WAS THERE A PART OF YOU THAT WAS CONCERNED THIS COULD HAVE ENDED YOUR CAREER?

The bizarre thing was that I had to start writing things down on a little white board. I felt like a right idiot, to be honest, but in the same breath, when you're told by a specialist, 'If you don't listen to what I am telling you, you'll permanently damage the one thing you need to do your job' – it was a real shock.

HAVE YOU NOW HAD TO TAKE MEASURES TO LOOK AFTER YOURSELF?

Well, yes. The way I lost my voice was doing pantomime. So, I've quit that this Christmas. I'm afraid, panto fans, there's no more from me. The irony is that last year was my 16th year doing panto, but that's it for me.

HOW DID SIMON REACT?

I got a video message from Simon – he didn't believe me. His words were, 'Hello Stevie, I know you could lose your head and you'd still be here. I don't believe any of this about you losing your voice'. That did make me laugh. We actually had a really good off-camera 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.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHO COULD WIN BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT THIS YEAR?

I know I always support the comedians and the magicians but I genuinely think it could be another magic act that wins this year. Interestingly, there have been quite a few good singers but I really think it's going to be a variety act, which I think will be great for the show.

DO YOU GET NERVOUS BEFORE FILMING?

Yeah, especially the live shows, because there's no delay. I do have a lucky charm, which is the colour of my boxer shorts, which are blue. Anyone that knows me knows they're always blue on a live show day, whether that's for TV or on stage.

HAVE YOU EVER FORGOTTEN YOUR LUCKY CHARM?

I've had one incident where I realised when I got to the studio that I didn't have blue underwear on and I literally got somebody to go and buy me a pair of boxer shorts that are blue. I'm not risking that.

:: Watch Britain's Got Talent, Saturday nights, ITV; Britain's Got More Talent Saturday nights, ITV2.