Comedian Joel Dommett has told of how lucky he feels to have been made host on The Masked Singer.
ITV’s potential X Factor replacement is the 34-year-old’s first major TV gig and has even sparked talk of him becoming the “new Dermot O’Leary”.
But Joel said bosses are taking a risk with him and he is just very grateful.
Speaking ahead of the launch this weekend, he said: “It was really lovely of ITV to make that brave call.
“It’d be easy to put in one of those five or six names we all know and love. I just feel lucky.”
Joel admits his I’m A Celebrity turn in 2016 opened doors, adding: “I owe all this to I’m A Celebrity.
"I wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for that. I guess it was all down to a goat’s penis! And I would eat it again for it to all happen again.”
And asked if he hopes to be the new O’Leary, who has hosted X Factor on and off for a decade, he said: “People keep on making these comparisons. That’s lovely – no discredit to Dermot.”
The Masked Singer, in which a panel has to identify stars performing in elaborate disguises, is a hit in Germany and the US.
Our panel is Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and Ken Jeong.
It comes after Joel hailed Ant and Dec for their influence on his career.
During an episode of I'm A Celeb spin-off show Extra Camp, in November, he told that his career has been helped a lot by being involved with the show and singled out the Geordie duo for praise.
He told them: "You two have been an important part of my life for years."
Ant jumped up in excitement as he and an inkling about the inking that was about to be shown.
He exclaimed: "I've seen this on your Instagram ."
Joel then turned his back to the cameras to reveal that he had Ant and Dec tattooed on the back of each leg, much to the delight Geordie pair.
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