In the wild world of British television, three figures reign supreme: Ant and Dec, the cheeky Geordie duo with an uncanny ability to be on everything, and Stephen Mulhern, the man who seems to have a standing agreement to host any show ITV dreams up. Between them, they dominate our screens, filling every available timeslot with laughter, banter, and an overwhelming sense of “not them again!”
But the question must be asked: who is the most annoying? Is it Ant and Dec, the self-appointed monarchs of Saturday night television? Or is it Stephen Mulhern, the relentless jester who’s happy to present anything that comes with a glitter cannon? Let’s take a closer look at these titans of ubiquity to determine who truly deserves the title of Britain’s Most Annoying TV Host.
Ant and Dec: ITV’s Golden Boys
Let’s start with the Geordie duo themselves. Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly—Ant and Dec to everyone who’s ever owned a telly—have been staples of British entertainment since the Byker Grove days. They’ve charmed their way from a questionable pop career (PJ & Duncan, anyone?) to becoming the undisputed kings of ITV primetime.
Why they’re everywhere:
If there’s a primetime TV show with a studio audience, Ant and Dec are hosting it. From Saturday Night Takeaway to I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Britain’s Got Talent, they’re the face of feel-good television. Producers love them because they guarantee ratings—and, to be fair, they’re good at what they do. They can banter, they can laugh at themselves, and they know how to keep things moving without making it too awkward.
Why they’re annoying:
But here’s the thing: they’re always there. No matter what ITV show you tune into, their grinning faces are staring back at you. It’s like they’ve signed a blood pact with the network to never let anyone else have a go. And while their cheeky schoolboy act was endearing for a while, it’s started to wear thin. How many times can we watch them mock Simon Cowell’s trousers or prank a celebrity into thinking they’re on fire? The jokes are starting to feel less like banter and more like white noise.
And don’t even get me started on their catchphrases. “Let’s get ready to rumble!” was funny in 1994, lads. It’s 2025 now.
Stephen Mulhern: The Human Jack-in-the-Box
Then we have Stephen Mulhern, the ever-enthusiastic wildcard of British TV. If Ant and Dec are the polished princes of primetime, Mulhern is the court jester, turning up wherever there’s a paycheck and a camera. He’s the face of Catchphrase, the star of In for a Penny, and the bloke who’ll happily host the opening of an envelope if given half a chance.
Why he’s everywhere:
Unlike Ant and Dec, who seem to pick their projects carefully (or at least monopolise the big ones), Mulhern’s strategy is more scattergun. He’ll take anything. Game shows, talent show spin-offs, kids’ TV—if it needs a presenter, he’s your man. There’s a sort of admirable hustle to it, but it also means there’s no escape. Wherever you look, there he is, grinning like he’s just won the lottery.
Why he’s annoying:
Mulhern’s energy levels are both his greatest strength and his biggest flaw. He’s always on, always ready with a pun or a magic trick, and it can be exhausting to watch. He leans heavily on dad jokes and slapstick, which, while entertaining in small doses, quickly becomes grating when it’s all he seems to offer.
And let’s talk about his willingness to embrace cringe. From dressing up as a giant sausage on In for a Penny to awkwardly flirting with contestants on Catchphrase, Mulhern has no shame—and that’s part of the problem. There’s a fine line between charmingly self-deprecating and unrelentingly annoying, and he crosses it regularly.
Why Are They Ubiquitous?
The reason Ant, Dec, and Mulhern are everywhere boils down to one thing: they’re safe bets. Ant and Dec guarantee family-friendly fun with a touch of cheekiness, while Mulhern is a low-risk option who can slot into any format. Producers love them because they’re dependable, and audiences (mostly) tolerate them because they’re familiar.
But there’s a darker truth here: we, the viewers, are complicit. By continuing to watch their shows, laugh at their jokes, and vote for them to win TV Presenter of the Year for the millionth time, we’re enabling their ubiquity. It’s a vicious cycle, and we only have ourselves to blame.
The Annoyance Olympics
Let’s pit them head-to-head in a battle of irritation to see who reigns supreme:
Round 1: Ubiquity
- Ant and Dec are on every big ITV show.
- Stephen Mulhern is on everything else—and probably some shows you’ve never heard of.
Winner: Ant and Dec, by sheer volume.
Round 2: Recycled Jokes
- Ant and Dec’s “cheeky Geordie lads” act hasn’t evolved much since 1998.
- Mulhern’s dad jokes are relentless but occasionally unexpected.
Winner: Ant and Dec. Familiarity breeds contempt.
Round 3: Relatability
- Ant and Dec are polished and professional to a fault.
- Mulhern feels like the awkward bloke at the pub who somehow stumbled into showbiz.
Winner: Mulhern, for being unapologetically cringe.
What Would Happen If They Teamed Up?
The thought of Ant, Dec, and Stephen Mulhern co-hosting a show is both thrilling and terrifying. On one hand, it would be peak British television chaos. On the other, it might be too much personality for a single screen. Who would interrupt whom? Would Mulhern out-cringe Ant and Dec, or would they overpower him with sheer cheeky energy? It’s a tantalising (and slightly horrifying) prospect.
Conclusion: Who’s the Most Annoying?
In the end, it’s a close race, but Ant and Dec take the crown. Their omnipresence, coupled with their increasingly tired act, tips the scales. That said, Stephen Mulhern deserves an honourable mention for his tireless dedication to being just a bit too much.
Love them or loathe them, Ant, Dec, and Mulhern are here to stay. Until, of course, ITV finds a new Geordie magician willing to work for a never-ending supply of glitter and questionable banter.
Dwight Warner is the quintessential oddball Brit, with a weirdly American-sounding name, who has a knack for turning the mundane into the extraordinary. Hailing originally from London, now living in the sleepy depths of Lincolnshire but claiming an allegiance to the absurd, Dwight has perfected the art of finding the surreal in real life. Whether it’s a spirited rant about the philosophical implications of queueing or a deep dive into why tea tastes better in a mug older than you, his blogs blur the line between the abstract and the everyday.
With an irreverent wit and a penchant for tangents that somehow come full circle, Dwight Warner doesn’t just write; he performs on the page. His humour is both sharp and delightfully nonsensical, like Monty Python met your nosiest neighbour and they decided to co-write a diary.
Known for being gregarious, Dwight is the life of any (real or metaphorical) party, whether he’s deconstructing the existential crisis of mismatched socks or sharing his inexplicable theories about why pigeons are secretly running the economy.
A larger-than-life personality with a laugh as loud as his opinions, Dwight Warner invites readers to step into a world where everything’s slightly askew—and that’s exactly how he likes it.
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