Kerry Katona breaks silence on friend Stephen Mulhern’s ‘romance’ with Josie Gibson and ‘reason’ they were holding hands

KERRY Katona has spoken out about Stephen Mulhern's 'romance' with Josie Gibson after the pair were spotted holding hands.

Stephen, 47, and Josie, 39, raised eyebrows earlier this month when they were snapped looking close backstage at Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Rumours quickly started swirling that the presenters are more than just friends but Kerry - who has known Stephen since his days as a Butlins redcoat in the nineties - insisted they're not a couple.

She said: "I saw the pictures of Josie Gibson and Stephen Mulhern holding hands that had everyone speculating they're in a relationship, but I don't think there's anything in it."

Writing in her column for , Kerry continued: "I knew Stephen when he was a redcoat at Butlins and he's always been a gentleman - I think he reached out to take Josie's hand so she wouldn't fall."

When asked about the relationship, Josie said: 'm in love with Stephen Mulhern. There you go.”

She added to the : “But story of my life, I don't think he loves me."

But Kerry added: "Josie's comment that she's in love will just be her friendly nature. I know what it's like to be papped and look like you're in a relationship - but I don't think they're a couple in the slightest."

It's not the first time Josie has sparked romance rumours with a colleague.

She was last linked to This Morning cameraman Sam Morter after she shared a picture of them holding hands while on a job in Paris.

But, using the same joke to dispel romance rumours, she quipped: “I am not with Sam Morter... I love Sam Morter, he is my work colleague, I'm like his older sister. I'm like his auntie.”

During her stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in December she declared herself single and asked campmate and First Dates star Fred Sirieix to set her up.