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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Entertainment
Maisie Lillywhite

Comic Relief: Joel Dommett forced to pull out of Friday night show after testing positive for Covid-19

Comedian and actor Joel Dommett has had to step away from hosting Comic Relief tomorrow night (Friday, March 18). The host of The Masked Singer has tested positive for Covid-19, rendering him unable to lead the charity show.

In light of his illness, I'm a Celebrity runner-up Joel, who is from Rockhampton, South Gloucestershire, has told fans who will be filling in for him instead. The Skins actor took to Instagram this week to reveal to his 800,000 followers the name of his replacement.

Scribbling over his face in a picture of the Comic Relief line up, Joel wrote: "Super annoyed to report that I have the vid. This unfortunately means I have to pull out of hosting @comicrelief....

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"My incredible replacement is the better looking, more talented @vernonkay who is ace. I'll be watching from home donating loads of money like everyone else!"

Vernon will be joined by a host of famous faces on the big night, including co-host AJ Odudu. Sir Lenny Henry, Paddy McGuinness, Alesha Dixon, Zoe Ball, and David Tennant will also be making appearances.

The 46-year-old confirmed the news to his followers on his account, too. He said: "Covid has caught Captain Fantastic @joeldommett so I'm gonna be trying to fill his size 11.5 shoes on Fridays @comicrelief Prizeathon with @ajodudu.

"Get the vits in Joel kick it's [sic] a** and join in the fun from the sofa? (You could win a CAR!)."

Meanwhile, friends and fans of Joel left sweet comments under the 36-year-old's Instagram post. JLS star Aston Merrygold commented: "feel better soon bruv".

"Hard to 'like' this post. Get well soon x", wrote Afterlife actor Kate Robbins. Geordie Shore icon Vicky Pattison said: "I love you Hope you feel better soon".

South Gloucestershire-born Joel attended The Castle School in Thornbury, before moving to London in his late-teens. One of his first major television roles was as D.C. Sweeney in Skins in 2010, before landing a hosting role with Live in Chelsea, a discussion show about Made in Chelsea.

In 2016, Joel took part in I'm a Celebrity... Get me out of here! and came second place to Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt. More recently, Joel has taken up hosting duties for hit ITV shows The Masked Singer and The Masked Dancer.

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