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.”
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.
