Joel Dommett has admitted that he “really worried” about his appearance when he hit the big 4-0.
The TV presenter and comedian, who will host the National Television Awards for a sixth time this September, revealed that he wasn’t exactly thrilled about leaving his thirties behind in June 2025.
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Dommett – who recently welcomed his second child with wife Hannah Cooper – spoke about juggling fatherhood with his career and the pressure that comes with being on the small screen.
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On the topic of turning 40, The Masked Singer host said: “I was like, ‘Oh, it’s gonna be absolutely fine, why would I panic?’ I was like, ‘You know, all good’, and then I hit 40, and my wife would fully attest to this: I absolutely fell apart!”
Dommett said he was “suddenly really worried” about his appearance, explaining: “I was like, ‘What’s going on? Oh God, am I doing this right? Am I doing this right? Am I exercising?’
“And Hannah was like, ‘I’m pregnant. Can you please just worry about me for a second?’”
The pressure to look good on television led to Dommett and This Morning host Ben Shephard launching their own skincare brand For Skin.
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“That’s a bit of fun, and that’s happening. So we’re doing that, and I’m just learning a lot about how to look after myself better,” the comedian said, before adding that he is a “bit sleep-deprived” after he and Hannah welcomed their second son, Dutch, in May. The couple are also parents to their son Wilde, who was born in September 2023.
“I’m hosting Vernon Kay’s radio show in the morning, so I’m getting up at a ridiculous time,” Dommett explained.
“But it’s all good. Bless the boys, they are so brilliant. They are amazing, and I love it. I love being a dad, and I love being a husband, and I also love being a comedian and presenter. So I feel very lucky on all of those fronts. Long may all of them last.”
The father of two recently stepped down from hosting I’m a Celebrity spin-off show I’m a Celebrity… Unpacked to spend more time with his family, but he said that he does find it tricky to find a work/life balance.
ITV
“Every day is a different day and trying to figure out what your work-life balance is, is really hard,” Dommett said.
“And if you’re someone who’s cracked it, then fair play to you. But I don’t think anyone feels like they get it right, and I certainly don’t, and I’m really, really trying my best to.
“It’s just about trying to figure out what’s important. When you get to David Attenborough’s age, you want to know that you can look back and go, ‘Oh, I worked the right amount, I challenged myself the right amount, and I also saw my family enough and the right amount too’, and getting all of those plates spinning at the right speed is really difficult.
“I’m trying to get better at it, and hopefully I am, but it’s tough. It’s really tough.”
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