Stephen Mulhern reveals he played massive prank on Phillip Schofield, Holly Willoughby and Lorraine Kelly
SATURDAY Night Take-away’s Stephen Mulhern pulled off an almighty prank last week, taking control of ITV’s daytime shows – and leaving one star wanting to punch him.
The comic told us how, with Ant and Dec’s blessing, he was given free rein on Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women to make the presenters follow his orders with naughty cue cards.
Following last night’s big reveal, Stephen told us: “I was buzzing about it because it had never been done. I don’t know of anyone else who would have been allowed to do it. I saw it as an honour.
“It was like remote-controlling the presenters.”
Stephen began on Monday with Susanna Reid and Ben Shepard on GMB.
He said: “At one point she had a face like thunder, I felt terrified. I was trying to get Ben to refer to her as Susanna- bananna, and she was shaking her head in a disapproving way.
“I also tried to get her to sing her next autocue line, and she refused. Honestly, I felt like I was in the headmaster’s office. She definitely hated it the most.”
Next, Stephen disrupted Lorraine Kelly’s interview with YouTuber KSI — which made headlines when she repeatedly yawned and blamed mice in the studio.
He said: “Lorraine’s the queen of daytime and I didn’t want to annoy her. I give her credit, she really threw herself into it.
“Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were brilliant and did everything I said. When he started wafting his hand as if beautiful Holly had farted on air, my jaw dropped.
“James Martin was the chef that day and at one point I thought he’d punch me, he was so angry. He was cooking away and Holly and Phil are going, ‘Oh, I need a wee’. On Loose Women, at one point Charlene White had her head in her hands.”
Stephen’s series In For A Penny returns next month and he says: “I’d like to be summed up as the guy who makes people laugh.”
That’s in no doubt.
Paris: I'm 100% natural
PRETTY in pink Paris Hilton faked her way to fame playing up to the dumb blonde stereotype on The Simple Life.
But as she prepares to make a return to TV, the socialite-turned-DJ vows she’s all real.
Raunchy Emily on the up
OUR Biz Awards 2020 Woman of the Year Emily Atack has bagged a second series of her ITV2 sketch show — and plans an even raunchier set of skits.
Emily said: “My family may want to cover their ears (again). If they thought the last series was bum-clenchingly raucous, wait until they see this series.”
Rural Hurley Burly
ELIZABETH Hurley might have to swap her bikinis for a Barbour jacket as she’s set to film her own ‘at home in the country’ series.
The star, who lives in a palatial £6million, 13-bedroom mansion, is planning to make reality-style videos for her social media channels documenting her life in the countryside.
The actress and her son Damian want to make the most of their sprawling 187-acre Georgian estate, which features its own lake.
They live there with Liz’s mum Angela and her sister Kate.
A source said: “Liz has a huge and loyal social media following and she knows they’d love to see more of her home life.
“She’s also looking forward to taking part in a project with Damian. It would be great fun.”
The source added: “Although Liz is very glam, she’s also determined to show people how hardy she is. She’s great at DIY and she loves gardening.
“It will be an eye-opening gander.”
How to 'Oscar'
VANESSA Kirby has been getting “Oscars coaching” from fellow Brit actresses Kate Winslet and Olivia Colman – who told her to head for the free bar.
The Crown star has been nominated for her role in Pieces Of A Woman but is nervous ahead of her big night.
An LA mole tells us: “Olivia has advised Vanessa to enjoy the free bar to ease her nerves.
“Kate advised her to write an acceptance speech in advance.”
It certainly helps to have successful gal pals.
Dyning out with fella
HERE’S a sight to get Lady Whistledown’s feather quill quivering – Bridgerton actress Phoebe Dynevor stepping out with a mystery man in Altrincham, Cheshire, below.
The actress, who has been linked to Ariana Grande’s ex-fiancé Pete Davidson, shot to fame as corset-clad Daphne in the period drama.
But she looked a world away in a bomber and baggy trousers as she walked with her male pal.
Craig fans up front
THE Voice champ Craig Eddie is being bombarded by raunchy pictures of middle-aged fans’ boobs – and is happy to sign them once meet and greets return.
The Scot told us: “I’m getting cheeky messages, pictures of boobs and stuff, which was a surprise. I close the message and move on but signing boobs, I’ll definitely take that.”
Craig’s winning single Come Waste My Time topped the iTunes chart following last Saturday’s win. This week marked the start of National Stress Awareness month, and Craig – who suffers from anxiety – confided to us he considered taking his own life when he was at his lowest.
Craig said: “Loads of times there was a point where I didn’t want to carry on so much.”
Craig’s Voice coach, Anne-Marie has vowed to keep supporting him, telling him to get in touch if he’s struggling.
He said: “To have someone of that magnitude to provide solid advice is like a fast pass.”
Olivia's hurt by hate
OLIVIA COLMAN has confessed that fame has turned her into a recluse and reading comments about herself on social media can send her to bed crying for three days.
The actress, who’s up for another Oscar for her role in The Father, admits she’s painfully shy. She said: “I’m a homebody, leaving my front door is something I don’t like doing.
“I do protect myself by not really going out and I don’t have any social media and I try to read nothing on it because I’ve learned it just hurts and you can be sent to bed for three days crying because someone you don’t know has been vile about you.”
On jewellery designer Alex Monroe’s podcast, Olivia said: “Having a nice chat is one of the most beautiful things a human being can do. I love that, but if it’s on an equal footing. In the park I don’t know everyone’s face and they know my face. Most people are respectful, but you find someone taking photos of you.”
Well, we all think Olivia is amazing . . .
Don't go breaking my jars
HE’S a Marmite character – just ask Madonna – but Elton John is quite the connoisseur of yeast extracts.
The superstar is pictured with SEVEN varieties of the spread.
Ricky: Cough and I'll Tom ya
RICKY Gervais has vowed to follow movie superstar Tom Cruise and “go mental” if anyone breaks Covid regulations during filming of the third series of After Life.
In an expletive-ridden tirade, Tom famously threatened to sack any crew members he found breaching social distancing guidelines on the set of Mission: Impossible 7 last December.
Superstar Tom ranted: “If I see you doing it again, you’re f***ing gone.”
And Ricky has vowed to be just as tough. He said: “If anyone coughs I’ll be like Tom Cruise – I’ll go mental.
“Most of my cast and crew are over 40 and all the extras have been vaccinated.”
Ricky is confident the latest instalment of his black comedy, in which he plays a widower, is the best yet.
He added: “I spent twice as much time on this script as the first two.
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“They should keep getting better.”
That means double the laughs then.
EMERALD Fennell adored playing Camilla Parker Bowles in The Crown – thanks to her super- comfy costumes.
The actress and director, nominated for an Oscar, said: “I loved Camilla’s clothes – it’s a sensible cardy, wellies and a tweed skirt.
The moment I put it on – the smell of a Barbour, the smell of a wool cardy in the rain, the Camilla teeth that I have, and her amazing iconic hair.
“I have rarely had to be sexy in anything, thank God.
“It’s unnerving having to wear something revealing so it’s freeing to play the sort of woman who wears what’s comfortable – it’s still so rare.”
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