Stephen Mulhern: ITV star collapses in front of worried Pizza Express diners and is taken to hospital

The Sun has reported that the Deal Or No Deal host was taken to hospital after her health emergency inside the Sunningdale restaurant. Reports suggest that Mulhern, 47, had collapsed after a drink he had reacted badly to an anaesthetic he had received for a medical procedure earlier that same day.

It comes as Mulhern grieves the loss of his father, Christopher, with the ITV star said to be heartbroken over the loss, which occurred last month. A source told the newspaper: “Stephen has been going through an incredibly tough time of late.

“He is grieving the loss of his dad to whom he was so, so close. He’s also been battling several well-documented health problems, and on Wednesday morning had a procedure requiring a local anaesthetic.

“He took himself off for a quiet, solo dinner that evening, had a few drinks and just reacted incredibly badly. He’s only human, and his dad’s death has hit him hard.

They added: “Stephen immediately felt unwell and concerned staff came over, and called 999. Paramedics checked him over and took him to hospital as a precaution. He was also put on the phone to his mum to reassure her that he was OK.

“Stephen is recovering well at home now, and is resting up. He’s so grateful for the care he received, and is mortified that he had such an awful — and public — reaction to the anaesthetic.”

A spokesman for Mulhern confirmed the incident, saying: “Stephen has had an incredibly tough time over the past few weeks. His beloved father recently passed away which has hit him hard and has been understandably very stressful. In addition, he had a surgical procedure.

“Following the anaesthetic administered, he had a few drinks which made him unwell and he was taken in to hospital as a precaution. He is now back home recovering.”

Mulhern’s health issues became apparent after he was forced to miss an episode of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway in April, with Capital DJ Jordan North covering for him instead.

He is said to be receiving support from close friend and fellow ITV star Holly Willoughby. Willoughby is also set to team up with Mulhern to present the rebooted 1980s gameshow You Bet!, which is set to air two episodes next month.