Stephen Mulhern: ‘I Taught Simon How to Face Swap!'

The Britain’s Got More Talent presenter returns for the show’s 11th series and lifts the lid on the judges’ backstage antics – including the new, improved Simon Cowell…

- Christine Smith

He’s been hosting the spin-off ITV2 series Britain’s Got More Talent for 11 years, so who better than Stephen Mulhern, 40, to spill the beans on what really goes on behind the scenes on the hit show – the judges playing pranks on one another, Simon Cowell getting to grips with Face Swap, and how David Walliams is like a little kid…

Britain’s Got Talent is on its way back, along with your spin-off show. Do you think it’s just as popular and fresh as it was when it started 11 years ago?

Yes, I do, and actually, we’ve really stepped it up this year. Everybody seems to be on fire. It’s exciting to think that 11 years in we’re still having such a laugh. You see that banter on screen. It’s amazing.

What’s Simon like this year? 

He’s on top form. In the past he’s always turned up late and this year, at the start of filming, he announced he was going to be on time. We were all like: ‘Yeah, yeah, alright.’ But he was actually on time every day! And Simon being on time has really benefitted the show.

Is he more laid-back as a boss? 

Absolutely. He’s like a different person. We have a really good relationship and that’s why I think the judging panel will stay the same for a long time to come. They all get on.

What’s the funniest thing that’s happened on set so far this series? 

I had to teach Simon about Face Swap. He didn’t know what it was and I had to teach him how to use it. I told Simon to try it out with him and David. But Simon was like a child!