WHEN it comes to finding fame, there is no secret formula – but talent, wit and good looks can help.
But comedian and ITV host Joel Dommett believes there’s actually one reason he’s become one of telly’s busiest men.
It’s because he’s NICE.
As his guessing game spectacular, The Masked Dancer, reaches its finale, Joel told me: “I’m not under any illusions.
“I genuinely got so many jobs over my lifetime because I’m nice.
“Definitely in comedy, but also in presenting too.
“There’s always going to be people that are funnier than me.
“So when they do have that choice, it’s a case of, ‘We could get this really funny person.
“Joel is slightly less funny but nice to spend time with in a green room, so let’s get Joel.’
“That’s how I’ve got lots of my jobs!”
Joel’s steady rise to fame has seen him take on spin-offs and pilots before he landed the biggest role of his career, as host of The Masked Singer and its sister show, The Masked Dancer.
This weekend he will see Onomatopoeia, Pearly King and Scissors move and groove in the hope of being crowned this year’s dance champion.
But Joel has already won — with his popularity showing no sign of waning.
He said: “No one teaches you anything, you’ve just got to figure it out for yourself.
“I’m just kind of trying to sort of build all these little skills, this little Swiss army knife of TV presenting kind of thing.
“You’ve got a little tool that does live TV, a little tool that does stand up comedy, and you’ve got another little one that does shiny floor stuff.
‘VERY VISUAL’
“And you’ve just got to keep it in your pocket at all times, and hopefully you can get out the right knife when you need it.”
An interesting analogy, especially when you consider the next project Joel’s hoping to get off the ground.
The comic hopes to turn his wife Hannah Cooper into his telly sidekick by turning their popular podcast, Never Have I Ever, into a TV show.
Joel added: “A lot of the things that we do are very visual so they would make an amazing TV show.
“I think we will start to put it up on YouTube but if any TV channel wants to snap it up first, you know where we are.
“I am just happy that people are seeing how amazing Hannah is.
“We all know how beautiful Hannah is to look at but now people can see how funny she is to listen to.”
Ahh, Joel. You’re just so nice!
STRICTLY CELEBS MOVE IN ON SHOW
MUCH was made of the ratings war between The Masked Dancer and Strictly Come Dancing when both shows were scheduled in similar Saturday night time slots.
So it has not gone unnoticed that three of the nine acts unmasked so far on ITV happen to be former contestants of the BBC dance show – Kimberley Walsh, Stacey Dooley And Denise Lewis.
And there were five Strictly celebs in series one, including judge Craig Revel Horwood as Knickerbocker Glory and the series’ eventual winner, Louis Smith as Carwash.
Joel said: “Taking those people, where they learn such an incredible skill on Strictly . . . you must just constantly want to dance again, but there’s only so many shows where you can.
“So it’s nice to give people who come from Strictly another chance to flourish.”
Of the schedule clash, he added: “I mean, it does feel scary being up against such a titan as Strictly.
“But I think it’s wonderful the fact that the show’s become big enough that they think that they can put it up against Strictly and hopefully make a dent.
“ I think that’s all we’re going for, really.”
There’s more than enough glitter to go around.
A PEARLY PARTNER
THIS series featured the show’s first duo, Pillar and Post – but Joel reckons the real double act have been him and Pearly King.
He said: “Pearly King used me to his full ability.
“I basically became his dance partner the entire time.
“I had to work a lot harder whenever he was on stage. He is so entertaining.”
PANTING POINTER
FOR those at home trying to guess the identity of Onomatopoeia, Scissors or Pearly King, Joel has one top tip – listen for heavy breathing.
He said: “There are lots of panters! They really breathe hard after they’re dancing quite a long time with a full-on, weighty costume.
“So I’m like, whose breathing is that?
“Who is that? Who used to smoke?”
MY LOOS TALK WITH WOSSY
HOST Joel has become best mates with The Masked Dancer’s celebrity panel including Davina Mccall, Peter Crouch And Oti Mabuse.
They will be joined by comedian Dawn French for Saturday night’s finale.
But despite all that showbiz sparkle, Joel has revealed that it is fourth panellist Jonathan Ross who is his favourite.
Joel said: “I just feel like I learn so much from him every single time I work with him.
“There’s a reason that he’s stayed in this business for such a long time and that’s because he works really, really hard and delivers every single time.”
The pair are so close they swap ideas about who is behind the masks when they nip to the loo between filming.
Joel added: “Yes, Urinal Chats With Joel Dommett And Jonathan Ross.
“There we go! Our new comedy series.”
I cannot see TV execs wanting to spend a penny on making that.
