Stephen Mulhern snapped after being asked about his and Josie Gibson 's romance rumours live on This Morning on Tuesday.

Last month, Stephen, 47, and Josie, 39, were walking outside of ITV's studio to the set of the final episode of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, and the pair were seen holding hands and looking rather cosy. Poking fun at the rumours that the images sparked, Ben Shephard got quite the reaction from Stephen this week when he made a joke about his dating life.

As This Morning transitioned into an ad break, Ben, 49, introduced an upcoming ASMR section and Stephen could be seen stroking bubble wrap across his face as he quipped: "I'm having the time of my life."

READ MORE - Josie Gibson finally sets record straight on Stephen Mulhern 'romance' with blunt remark

Ben then took the chance to joke: "Is that because he's dating one of the family? Is that what it is?" Josie is of course part of the ITV family and also hosts This Morning. According to OK!, Stephen then snapped back: "Oh shut your face!"

Ben's co-host Cat Deeley then added: "We couldn't let you go without... Josie," with Ben chiming in, "The picture says it all." Aghast, Stephen told the ITV presenting duo: "Listen, she didn't show up to rehearsals, I held her hand and I showed her where to stand. That is it!"

Despite much speculation that Stephen and Josie are secretly dating, Josie set the record straight when speaking to OK! Magazine, insisting that she and Stephen were simply 'best friends'. The This Morning star said: "Stephen? Oh, he’s so lovely. We are really good friends, I really adore him, but there’s no romance in the air. But he’s so nice."

Josie added: "Every bloke that I come in contact with, the press seems to think that I’m having it off with them. People must think I’m a right goer. I’m not like that. To be with somebody or to even kiss somebody, I’ve really got to love them. I’ve really got to really be into them. I can’t give my energy over when I’m not completely into it. You know when you get that magic connection? For me it only comes around like once every seven years or eight years. I love the love because those are very, very special [moments] when you find them."

Meanwhile, Stephen has kept his card close to the chest when it boils down to matters of the heart, although he was romantically involved with EastEnders actress Emma Barton, aka Honey Mitchell in 2008. The couple became close during the panto production of Snow White in Birmingham but eventually called it quits in 2011. Seven years later, Stephen told Celebs Now he hadn't been on a date "in four years", adding, "That makes me sound really sad! I need a life. I need to stop working so much."

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