Expansion of ITV travelogue comes less than a month after the first episode’s debut

ITV has ordered three more specials of Stephen Mulhern travelogue Accidental Tourist from South Shore and Mitre Studios.

The shows will see Mulhern once again step out of his comfort zone to embark on adventures abroad.

Having visited South Korea and learned about its culture in the first edition, Mulhern wants to build on the progress he made there and once again recruits friends Ant and Dec to help him on his new adventures, rather than regressing back into his old creature comfort ways.

With their support, further encouragement from his family and a little help from social media, Mulhern attempts to navigate unfamiliar territories in the hope to quell some of his life-limiting phobias.

The specials were commissioned by Sue Murphy, director of factual entertainment, and Kate Teckman, head of development and commissioning editor. Andrew Mackenzie and Melanie Leach will executive produce for South Shore, with Ed Sleeman and Jack Shillaker undertaking the same duties for Mitre Studios.

The first episode of Accidental Tourist debuted on 14 December and was up 15% on ITV1’s 9pm slot average for individuals, since when it has partially consolidated to 3.4m individuals, according to data supplied by ITV.

Murphy and Teckman said: “The audience has clearly enjoyed seeing them [Ant, Dec and Mulhern] together in a new light in such a personal project, as have we.”

Mulhern noted the “overwhelming” response to his South Korean adventure and that he was “blown away” by the number of people who related to his worries and fears in the programmes.

He continued: “I don’t want to undo the good work I achieved so I’ve asked Ant and Dec to help me again. I need that little loving shove in the right direction, otherwise I fear I’ll slip back into my old ways. I’m still scared but this time I’m a little excited too, I know I can do this…. Or at least give it a good go!”

Dec added: “Unbeknown to Stephen, we have a long list of places we’d love him to experience that will hopefully help him get over more of his fears and phobias, which we know he’s keen to try and conquer.”