This Morning presenter Dermot O'Leary has triumphed in the festive edition of ITV's hit show, The Masked Singer, after being unveiled as the celebrity behind the Mistletoe costume. The 52-year-old host secured victory in the Christmas Special, which aired on ITV, following two song performances and a covert mission of vocal training.
How The Judges Unmasked Mistletoe
O'Leary's disguise proved less than foolproof for the show's regular panel. Judge Jonathan Ross identified him almost immediately, while host Joel Dommett committed a major slip-up by accidentally blurting out O'Leary's name during filming. The gaffe occurred when Dermot laughed at a comment from Ross.
"I laughed at something that Jonathan said and Joel went immediately 'that's Dermot'," O'Leary recalled. "The whole thing felt quite giddy because it's a Christmas special, but I think by then, the cat was pretty much out of the bag, to be fair. Everyone else had pretty much guessed me."
The Secret to Victory: Song Choice and Stealth Prep
O'Leary performed two classic festive tracks: 'Fairytale of New York' and 'Last Christmas'. He credits his song selection as a key factor in his win. "I think the song probably won it for me if I'm honest," he admitted.
His preparation was remarkably secretive, involving costume fittings in the summer and dedicated vocal coaching. "I started doing vocal coaching then too," O'Leary revealed. "This was just a bit of fun, but you're also learning a little bit of skill... I'd be walking around my kitchen singing Last Christmas in June and July!"
The presenter confessed he sought advice from fellow ITV star Alison Hammond, a previous Masked Singer contestant, who encouraged him to take part.
Costume Challenges and Family Reactions
Winning wasn't without its difficulties. The Mistletoe outfit was cumbersome and restrictive. "I had no vision at all. It's quite claustrophobic and it's quite tight," O'Leary explained, also noting a fear of falling off the stage in the heavy costume.
Now, the broadcaster is looking forward to his five-year-old son Kasper seeing the show. "He watches me on the telly, although he gets a bit shy when he sees me on screen which is so cute," said O'Leary. "I think he thinks everyone is on telly basically."
Reflecting on the unusual experience, where contestants are kept in strict isolation, O'Leary said: "I'm used to talking for a living and in this show, people aren't allowed to talk to you. So you are on your own with your thoughts which is quite weird."
Despite the judges' early suspicions, Dermot O'Leary's victory in The Masked Singer: Christmas Special stands as a festive TV highlight. The new series of The Masked Singer begins on January 3 at 6.30pm on ITV and ITVX. The Christmas Special is available to stream now on ITVX.
