‘The boxes are back, the banker is back!’ Stephen Mulhern is set to relaunch ‘Deal Or No Deal’ – six years after the hit game show was cancelled
According to a new report on Friday, Stephen Mulhern will relaunch ‘Deal Or No Deal’ six years after it was dropped from Channel 4.
The 45-year-old presenter is set to host an ITV reboot of the hit game show, which will remain “pretty much the same” with the addition of Stephen, making it feel “fresh”.
Deal Or No Deal was previously hosted by Noel Edmonds, from its first episode in 2005 to ending in August 2016 after 13 series.
New presenter: Stephen Mulhern, 45, is set to restart ‘Deal Or No Deal’, six years after it was dropped from Channel 4, according to a new report on Friday
A source told The Mirror: “Deal or No Deal is such a strong format that you don’t want to mess with it.
“It’s pretty much the same. The boxes are back, the banker is back and the 22 players.
“The only difference is Stephen, which gives it a fresh feel.”
Stephen Mulhern’s representatives declined to comment when contacted by Web. ITV was also contacted.
Throwback: Deal Or No Deal was previously hosted by Noel Edmonds from its first episode in 2005 to ending in August 2016 after 13 series.
It was previously reported that the popular game show was set to make a return, with Stephen set to replace former host Noel.
Sources claimed there were suggestions Noel could return, but in the end ITV is keen to give the show “a whole new look and feel”.
Insiders told The Sun last month: “ITV thinks there’s still a big appetite for it and thinks they could make the show a huge success by bringing it back.
“Plans for the restart are still in a very early stage and details of when he might return are being closely guarded.”
New: The presenter is set to host an ITV reboot of the hit game show, which will remain “pretty much the same” with the addition of Stephen to keep it feeling “fresh”.
“Stephen has been approached to be the show’s new host, which he is over the moon about.
ITV’s representatives and Stephen Mulhern declined to comment when contacted by Web.
Best known for being the In For A Penny frontman and Catchphrase, presenter Stephen is a key part of ITV’s Saturday Night Takeaway team.
Deal Or No Deal, which aired for more than a decade, initially proved a hit, but viewership has dwindled in the last few series.
At its peak in 2006, it drew more than three million, but towards the end of its run it tended to draw around 300,000 viewers per episode.
As of 2005, Noel presented nearly 3,000 episodes of the show, in which contestants win prize money by choosing from 22 red boxes worth various sums.
He handed out £40m in prizes, although only eight participants won the £250,000 jackpot.
Before his ax in 2016, Noel said in a newspaper interview, “I don’t know if it’ll be picked up again – by the time it’s over I’ll have a sensational ten years behind me.”
Jay Hunt, Channel 4’s chief creative officer at the time, said at the time: “I remember watching the launch of ‘Deal Or No Deal’ and seeing it grow into a hit that has enthralled audiences for over a decade has long held a spell.
“A big part of that has to go to Noel and his exceptional presentation
Changes: A source told The Mirror: “Deal or No Deal is such a strong format that you don’t want to mess with it. The only difference is Stephen, which gives it a fresh feel.