Inside Fortune Hotel host Stephen Mangan’s off-screen life – from family tragedy to famous wife and surprising addiction

STEPHEN Mangan has a colourful life off-screen, including a strange addiction when he's not hosting The Fortune Hotel.

The 56-year-old fronts the brand new ITV reality show, which kicked off last Monday.

The Fortune Hotel sees a total of 10 couples with compete - with only one being armed with a briefcase containing the whopper cash prize.

Eight suitcases will be empty, with one containing the dreaded early checkout card, leading to elimination. 

Then begins the challenge in order to find which case the cash is in.

But away from the cameras Stephen leads a private life with his wife Louise Delemere and three sons - Henry, Frank and Jack.

Stephen and Louise - who is also a star in her own right - married back in 2007.

Louise has since stepped back from the limelight but previously starred in Channel 4's No Angels as well as Holby City.

Stephen previously revealed how he "hid" for three years after he tragically lost his mother at just 21.

He explained: "I left university in May or June and my mum got ill in early September."

The dad-of-three continued to the White Wine Podcast: "Mum died six months later and when you watch your mum go from an incredibly healthy, active 45-year-old and watch her decline in six months and then die, it's a profound and very, very vivid demonstration of how fragile we are and how little time we're alive.

"I think I had my audition for [Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts] maybe a week after she died, I applied a few weeks before she passed and just thought, this is I want to do."

Meanwhile, Stephen also revealed he has an addiction - but is thankful he's never got hooked on anything such as drugs.

He said: "Running is about as good as it gets for me. It's my happy place and it fills me with joy.

"Whatever it does for me, I'm just pleased it's that and not heroin, although running can feel like a religious experience."