ITV viewers have been over the moon to see comedian Stephen Mangan back on screen, as the hit Caribbean-set game show The Fortune Hotel returned for its second season earlier this month.
Hosted by the 57-year-old, the game show is a delightful blend of luck and strategy: each pair of contestants has a suitcase, but one pair has the money, and another has a card that leads to elimination. The pairs must strategically swap to get their hands on the prize case, while avoiding being kicked off.
The series has been off to a thrilling start so far, with cliffhangers and twists galore – and we're only on the second episode!
© ITVThough things are tense for the contestants, Stephen has admitted that he's got it easy: he called it a "cushy job", as he stays on the resort too. "I've got a view of the sea from my balcony," he added.
Back home, Stephen has a wonderful life with his famous wife and their children, and also has an incredible bond with his lookalike sister. Find out more about Stephen Mangan and his family here...
Who are Stephen Mangan's wife and children?
Stephen is best known for his roles in Green Wing and, more recently, The Split, as well as a long run on Celebrity Gogglebox. However, his wife is no stranger to TV work either.
© Jeff SpicerStephen is married to actress Louise Delamere, who has appeared in shows like Holby City and Channel 4's No Angels, and even had a cameo in BBC's hit sitcom Motherland.
Not much more information is known about their marriage and family as they choose to keep their personal life private and away from the spotlight, but the couple married in 2007 and share three sons together: Harry, Frank and Jack.
Stephen Mangan's lookalike sister and Celebrity Gogglebox partner
Stephen has two sisters, Lisa and Anita. Anita and Stephen are on Gogglebox together, but the Channel 4 programme is far from the first time they've collaborated.
© Channel 4The pair have written multiple books for children together, with their most recent being The Day I Fell Down the Toilet.
In 2022, the siblings spoke to The Guardian about the close bond that they've had since childhood.
"There were only 14 months between us, so I can’t remember life without her," said The Split actor. "We were very close, even in our teens."
Anita said: "Stephen’s been acting since he was about seven. At school, he did Beauty and the Beast, in which he played Beauty in an auburn wig. I remember people coming up to us and saying, 'He's so good, he’s so talented!' and I'd think, 'No he’s not. He’s Stephen.'"
Stephen Mangan's heartbreaking family tragedy
Over the years, Stephen has always been open about the tragedy that befell him and his siblings when their parents died: their mother died of cancer, and 14 years later, their father passed away due to a brain tumour.
The Fortune Hotel host told The Guardian, in the same interview: "When she died, and when Dad died 14 years later, I was so grateful that we were always very open in expressing how we felt. We would go out for meals, and it would end up with us sitting around a table in a hysteria of tears."
© Dave BenettFor Stephen, comedy was the best way of coping with the more difficult times in his life. He previously spoke to The Independent about how he and his siblings used comedy to get through darker periods: "When I was going through the most traumatic and difficult times of my life, when I was watching my parents die, there were moments where things were funny.
"Now you could stand at the side and go, 'Oh, you find it funny that your mum’s dying? You find it funny that your dad’s dying?' No. But as a human being, that ability to find humour in the darkest moments can save you. In the bleakest, darkest moments, comedy can throw a light."
