A contestant from the popular ITV game show Deal or No Deal has offered a rare glimpse into what host Stephen Mulhern is truly like when the cameras stop rolling. Helen McPherson, a content creator and mother-of-two, appeared on the January 20 episode, competing for a chance to win £100,000 against the banker.
From Nervousness to Admiration
Helen admitted to feeling "physically unwell" while watching other players take their turns on screen, with her anxiety mounting as she awaited her own episode's broadcast. Reflecting on her time on the show, she confessed to being "really nervous and a bit starstruck" upon meeting the magician-turned-host.
"I think I come across a bit dizzy on it, because I'm looking at him and I'm like, 'Oh my God that is Stephen Mulhern,'" Helen recalled. However, her initial apprehension quickly faded as she discovered Mulhern's authentic character.
Unexpected Kindness and Professionalism
Describing Stephen as "so lovely," Helen revealed she didn't expect him to be so compassionate during the three recordings filmed throughout the day. "He is the ultimate professional, but I didn't expect him to be so kind and generous with his time," she explained.
Helen was particularly touched by Mulhern's attention to detail, noting that he remembered personal information she shared about her son being a big fan. "He would just remember stuff and I just thought, b***** hell. Like, you don't have to do that," she said, challenging her initial assumption that he would simply "be whisked in at the last minute, do it and then go."
Creating a Supportive Environment
According to Helen, Mulhern excels at putting contestants at ease during the high-pressure filming. "He puts everybody at ease, when you do the first game, everyone is so nervous, it's funny, he goes, 'At the end of the day if you mess up, we'll just film it again, don't worry,'" she shared.
The most touching moment came after her game concluded, when Mulhern offered genuine comfort off-camera. "Afterwards, I was a bit of a mess and then I was like crying loads and he came and gave me a cuddle and he was looking at me, you can just see [it's genuine], because you can't fake that," Helen recounted. "He actually really does care about everybody."
The Reality of Being a Contestant
Helen also discussed her transition from viewer to participant, acknowledging that she previously found it "cringy" when contestants became emotional with each other on screen. Her perspective changed completely after experiencing the process firsthand.
"I've realised that it is a little bit like Big Brother because you're sort of thrown into this amazing hotel with these people and you're sort of hanging out with them all this time," she explained. The intense environment fosters genuine connections among competitors, despite how it might appear to television audiences.
Addressing common viewer skepticism, Helen emphasized that producers don't instruct contestants to say nice things when opening boxes. "You feel so invested, you feel like you're on an emotional rollercoaster, it is quite tense," she described, highlighting the authentic emotional investment participants develop throughout the experience.
