Stephen Mulhern forgot romance with EastEnders star after they met in Panto – as Josie Gibson reveals she’s ‘in love with him’

Stephen Mulhern is considered one of the most loved and respected TV presenters in the UK.

However, the 47-year-old star – who is currently single – has kept her personal life incredibly private over the years.

He previously dated EastEnders actress Emma Barton, who plays Honey Mitchell in the BBC soap, but they split in 2011.

The two first met in 2008 when they were both cast in the Snow White pantomime at the Marlowe Theater in Canterbury.

Emma starred as Snow White, while Stephen portrayed Muddles, the court jester to the Queen and Snow White’s best friend.

It comes after Josie Gibson was caught holding hands with her TV star Stephen outside the BBC studios on Saturday

When their relationship ended, without ever admitting they were an item, Stephen said his time with Emma came to a ‘natural end’.

Emma was previously married to solicitor Nigel Stoat between 2002 and 2005.

She is now in a relationship with music producer Jason Perry, with whom she often shares loved-up snaps on her social media.

Since then, Stephen has said in an interview with Celebs Now: ‘The last time I went on a date was about four years ago. That makes me sound really sad! I need a life. I have to stop working so much.’

It comes after Josie Gibson was caught holding hands with her TV star Stephen outside the BBC studios on Saturday.

The This Morning host and magician was filming Ant And Dec’s last Saturday Night Takeaway when the sweet, but brief, moment happened.

And asked about their relationship status. Josie, 39, told MailOnline: ‘I’m in love with Stephen Mulhern. Here you go.

“But the story of my life, I don’t think he loves me.”

He dated Emma, ​​who plays Honey Mitchell in the BBC soap, but they split in 2011

Emma is now in a relationship with music producer Jason Perry, with whom she often shares loved-up snaps on her social media

Stephen, 47, and Josie have been friends for some time and he may not be aware of her feelings for him.

The two seem to be having a great time and looked relaxed in each other’s company. Stephen wearing a navy jacket and jeans over a crisp white T-shirt.

Josie was wearing a camouflage jacket and a mint green T-shirt with her strawberry blonde locks styled in a rock star quiff.

Last year, Josie said she was in the early stages of a romance, saying: ‘There’s someone in my life at the moment but it’s early stages…I’ve said I love you.

“Best just get it out of the way, I don’t like to play games.”

Fans were convinced she was dating cameraman Sam Porter after she shared a photo of them holding hands while on a job in Paris, but she said they were just friends and that she was once again single.

Josie was last linked with cameraman Sam Porter when she shared these sweet snaps of them together in Paris in 2023, but in August she shut down the rumours.

Also, Josie, 38, split from her plumber Luke in 2015 after their relationship turned passionless and called off a three-year engagement (Josie and Luke pictured in 2014)

Josie has said she is happy to remain single to focus on her baby boy Reggie, who is five

She cleared up the speculation and later said: ‘I’m not in a relationship and I’m not in love with cameraman Sam either. I’m not with Sam Morter.. I love Sam Morter, he’s my work colleague, I’m like his big sister. I’m like his aunt. That’s as far as it goes’.

Josie has said she wants to spend her time with her son Reggie, five. She separated from his father, property developer Terry, when their son was just five months old.

Before that. she was engaged to plumber Luke Sanwo, but they split in 2015, after a five-year romance.