I idolise Ant and Dec... I want to be like them
Host Joel Dommett hopes to emulate telly pair’s longevity
Joel Dommett is living the dream. From hosting an online show about Made In Chelsea to fast becoming one of TV’s brightest stars, the comedian cannot quite believe his luck.
Fresh off the back of quiz show In With A Shout, he has a new series of Survivor on the BBC this summer, for six weeks in the Dominican Republic.
Alongside co-hosting The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome in Liverpool with AJ Odudu, it’s a wonder Joel can even find time to unpack his suitcase.
But the 37-year-old Masked Singer presenter loves throwing himself into work – and he has some famous mentors who he hopes to emulate.
“The really hard part is longevity,” he says. “Getting on TV is really difficult. And doing shows that you really love and enjoy is really hard. But to stay in that place for the next 30 years is even harder.
“I think that’s why I look up so much to people like Ant and Dec and Dermot [O’Leary] and all those people who have done it so well for so long.”
Such is his admiration for Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly that he even had their names tattooed on his legs during 2019’s I’m A Celebrity spin-off Extra Camp, as a tribute to their influence.
His own stint on I’m A Celeb in 2016, when he was runner-up to Scarlett Moffatt, has stood him in good stead for Survivor – in which contestants battle for resources, shelter and rare luxuries for six weeks in the sunshine.
It is one of Joel and model wife Hannah Cooper’s favourite shows. He says: “You realise why it’s lasted 40 seasons in the US, it’s so simple and brutal.
“People have to survive on absolutely nothing, so when they go for these challenges to win something simple, like a pillow, they really go for it.
“It’s got elements of Love Island, it’s got some I’m A Celebrity. Even Big Brother and things like that. The Apprentice, and Traitors, they’ve all been influenced by Survivor.”
I want people to not hate me for a little bit JOEL DOMMETT ON HIS TELEVISION AMBITIONS
Watching people fighting for food might remind Joel of when he battled hunger for three weeks in the Australian jungle.
“I loved I’m A Celeb, it’s an amazing show but it’s so much harder than people see on TV.
“You watch the entertaining parts, but the least entertaining bits are when you’re sat around the campfire complaining about how unbelievably hungry you are. I’ll fully sympathise with the Survivor contestants.”
I’m A Celeb didn’t just get Joel noticed by Ant and Dec; it was a career boost that led to him becoming host of The Masked Singer and Masked Dancer, stand-in host of This Morning, and 2021 MC of the National Television Awards.
His wife brings him down to earth any time he might get delusions of grandeur.
The pair met when Hannah sent him a heart-eyed cat emoji in response to one of his Instagram stories.
They tied the knot in 2019 on Greek island Mykonos, and launched a couples podcast, Never Have I Ever, last spring.
The two share most household chores, although Hannah takes on a lot of the cooking after Joel accidentally cut part of his thumb into her meal. “We were doing one of those meal kit boxes and I was chopping chives,” he recalls.
“I sliced off my thumbnail and a bit of finger, and it went into the chives and I lost it. I thought, ‘I can’t abandon the meal, there’s a 50/50 chance it’ll go in my mouth – pretty good odds.’ So I served up and unfortunately she ate it.”
There will be less chance of digit amputation at this year’s Eurovision fun, which begins with The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome on May 7 – a thank you to Lotto players for supporting thousands of music and cultural projects in Liverpool.
Almost 30,000 ticketholders will gather outside St George’s Hall in the city for a 90-minute show, with performances from Atomic Kitten, Ricky Tomlinson, Strictly judge Shirley Ballas, Dancing On Ice’s
The Vivienne, The Lightning Seeds, Ukraine’s Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala and 2014 winner Conchita Wurst.
“Conchita and The Vivienne are the kind of people I get really starstruck by,” admits Joel. “Cultural icons. People who changed the game.”
Joel started out on TV with bit parts in Casualty and Teenage Kicks. “It’s really difficult to shift with the tides and continue to be on TV. The fact people like Ant and Dec please people for so long is great.
“My dream is to still be in
this position in 30 years. Having The Masked Singer and Survivor is a dream come true, and hopefully I can rotate that for years and people won’t hate me. It’s best to set the bar low – I just want people not to hate me for a little bit, that would be lovely.”
Joel Dommett is hosting The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome on May 7 with extra tickets on sale at noon today at BigEurovisionWelcome.co.uk. Highlights will be on BBC1 on May 8.