Stephen Mulhern has spoken candidly about his childhood, as he opened up about a "terrible" trick a bully once played on him during his school years.
The ITV presenter, 45, has recently embarked on a new venture and penned his first ever children's book, Max Magic, which was inspired by his own childhood experiences. The book focuses on a boy called Max who learns magic tricks to help him at school.
Stephen said discovering magic at a young age helped him to deal with bullies, as he encouraged kids to learn something new to help them in "tough situations".
The magician was 11-years-old when he remembers one "terrible" trick being played on him.
"The worst moment I think was when I was made to stand in West Ham Park. And this bully said to me, 'If you leave before I do, I will beat you up.'
"So I literally stood there for an hour in the middle of this field, just in case," he told Heat magazine as he recalled his experiences.
Stephen added: "It was just terrible. But when I said it helps, magic helps in a manner that it slightly got him onside. And if that's the way you have to deal with it, that's the way you have to deal with it."
The TV personality said his bully "couldn't do what I was doing" and eventually asked Stephen to teach him, leading to the situation "mellowing out".
Stephen also said he believes there are two ways to defeat bullies. The first involved the "thuggish way", which he admitted doesn't help anyone. The second involves something like magic, "or something that's going to fascinate people".
Stephen said he hasn't seen his bully since he was a child, but often wonders about what he would be doing now.
Stephen recently said he was "overwhelmed" by support from fans after stepping in for Phillip Schofield on Dancing On Ice.
It was the first time he appeared beside his pal Holly Willoughby on screen in 16 years. He said that it was "lovely" to work with her again after they both started their careers together on CITV.
"I was astounded by the reaction from social media because it was overwhelming to be honest," he told The sun.
"We just had a great time and it was just nice to step in."
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