We all know how Coronation Street fans were gearing up to see Stephen host The Big Soap Quiz. But it seems like life had other plans for him. He had a difficult few weeks

dealing with a personal loss and a sudden health scare – leading to which Stephen had to step away from hosting duties.

But as we all know, the show must go on, and soon, Corrie legend Sally Lindsay will step in to host it.

Reason Why Stephen Had to Step Away

Stephen has always been known for his charm and quick wit, but recently, he lost his father, Christopher, and that seems to have taken a toll on him. Even though he tried to keep it private, when he ended up collapsing recently, the news surfaced, and his struggles came to light.

When he was dining solo at a Pizza Express in Berkshire, he collapsed, resulting from an anesthetic reaction from a medical procedure. Soon, an ambulance arrived, and Stephen was taken to Frimley Park Hospital. Now that he has taken off from the show, he is now resting at home.

From the Sources

According to the source who confirmed The Sun:

“Stephen has been going through an incredibly tough time of late. He is grieving the loss of his dad, to whom he was so, so close. He’s also been battling several well-documented health problems, and on Wednesday morning, he had a procedure requiring a local anesthetic.

He took himself off for a quiet, solo dinner that evening, had a few drinks and just reacted incredibly badly. He’s only human, and his dad’s death has hit him hard. Stephen immediately felt unwell, and concerned staff came over and called 999. Paramedics checked him over and took him to hospital as a precaution.

He also put on the phone to his mum to reassure her that he was OK. Stephen is recovering well at home now, and is resting up. He’s so grateful for the care he received and is mortified that he had such an awful – and public – reaction to the anesthetic.”

Sally Lindsay – The Perfect Replacement

Replacing Stephen is Sally Lindsay, known as Shelley Unwin from Corrie, who graced the cobbles from 2001 to 2006. Given her charming personality, she will surely bring a fresh dynamic to the Big Soap Quiz. For soap fans, this is a major highlight as Corrie and Emmerdale stars will be seen against each other, head to head – as they will be grilled against iconic soap moments.