The Masked Singer presenter Joel Dommett has lifted the curtain on a fascinating production secret from the hit ITV show, explaining why filming is deliberately paused moments before a celebrity's identity is revealed. The 40-year-old television host shared these intriguing behind-the-scenes details during a recent appearance on the Please Keep Me Anonymous podcast with Chris and Rosie Ramsey.
The Practical Reason for Filming Pauses
Dommett revealed that producers implement a specific technical pause in the recording process just as the audience reaches the peak of anticipation. "We actually have a stop of the record," Dommett explained. "So they go 'take it off, take it off, take it off', and then we stop the record just before they're about to take it off and they get their make up done and things like that."
This practical break allows for essential cosmetic adjustments and preparation before the dramatic reveal moment is captured on camera. "And then we go back and then we go 'take it off, take it off', and I go 'Oh my god it's this person!'" Dommett added, describing the carefully orchestrated television magic.
When Recognition Fails
The presenter candidly admitted there have been occasions when celebrities removed their elaborate costumes and he found himself completely unable to identify them. "There's 100% been times when the celebrity had taken off their mask and I had no idea who it was underneath," Dommett confessed.
In such moments of uncertainty, production staff employ a discreet solution to keep the show running smoothly. "Producers of The Masked Singer will whisper the name in my ear if I am bamboozled," Dommett revealed, sharing a particularly memorable example from the show's inaugural series.
"There was a guy who was a politician and everyone was like 'take it off, take it off, take it off', and the producer says in my ear 'It's Alan Johnson'. And I go 'Oh my god it's Alan Johnson', and in my head I'm like 'Who the f*** is this?'" Dommett recounted with characteristic humour.
Former UK Home Secretary Alan Johnson was indeed revealed as the Pharaoh during the first season of The Masked Singer UK in January 2020, marking one of the programme's most surprising celebrity unveilings.
Family Connections to the Show
Beyond his professional involvement, Dommett disclosed that the programme has become something of a family obsession. The television personality, who is married to model Hannah and shares a two-year-old son named Wilde, revealed that his young child has developed a particular fascination with the ITV series.
"My son Wilde is obsessed with The Masked Singer," Dommett shared, though this enthusiasm led to what he described as an 'embarrassing' public moment. While visiting a shopping centre, Wilde began enthusiastically shouting the show's signature catchphrase, much to his father's amusement and slight discomfort.
"While it was really cool that the two-year-old would wake up and demand to watch the ITV show," Dommett admitted, "I had to try to quiet Wilde when he started shouting 'take it off, take it off' on our shopping trip."
Current Series Developments
The Masked Singer UK is currently airing its seventh series on ITV and ITVX, having premiered in early January 2026. The programme continues to attract significant audience attention with its unique blend of musical performance, elaborate costumes, and celebrity mystery.
Recent episodes have seen the unveiling of notable figures including The One Show presenter Alex Jones and rapper Professor Green, maintaining the show's reputation for featuring diverse and sometimes unexpected participants from across the entertainment and public spheres.
Dommett's revelations provide fascinating insight into the carefully managed production techniques that help create one of British television's most engaging and unpredictable entertainment formats, while also highlighting how the programme has captured the imagination of viewers across generations.
