Longtime host Joel Dommett has found himself in hot water with producers of ITV's hit show The Masked Singer after a major slip-up during filming for the upcoming Christmas special.
A Costly Slip of the Tongue
The 40-year-old presenter, who has fronted the bizarre reality series for six years, admitted he was put 'on the naughty step' after he prematurely revealed the identity of a contestant. The incident occurred when Dommett heard the distinctive chuckle of the celebrity inside the Mistletoe costume and, without thinking, blurted out their real name.
'I can't believe I did it,' Dommett told The Sun. 'This person was chuckling in the costume and it's a chuckle I know well and I said their name. It just came out. Their actual name!' The live studio audience immediately erupted into laughter, leaving a red-faced Dommett sinking to the floor in despair.
Producers Issue a Stern Warning
Thankfully, the show's judges – Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan, and Maya Jama – had already largely guessed the celebrity's identity. However, the producers were quick to pull Dommett aside. 'Producers did reiterate to me that I wasn't to do that again,' he confessed. 'I was on the naughty step.'
The entire awkward moment will be included when the Christmas special airs on Boxing Day at 7.30pm on ITV1. The festive episode features themed characters including Santa's Sack, Goose A-Laying, Figgy Pudding, and the now-partially-exposed Mistletoe. Dommett and the team are keeping tight-lipped about the celebrity's full identity until broadcast.
Not The First On-Stage Drama
This is not the first time The Masked Singer has been thrown into chaos. Earlier this year, contestant Toad in the Hole stormed off stage before revealing themselves as R&B legend Macy Gray, in a moment host Dommett later described as 'so awkward'.
Reflecting on that incident with Fearne Cotton on BBC Radio 2, Dommett even joked about his own commentary being cut, saying: 'I'm absolutely livid about that... Might be the funniest I have ever been.'
Fans will have to tune in on December 26th to see the full extent of Dommett's latest hosting blunder and finally discover who is behind the Mistletoe mask.
