Home Entertainment From performing at open mic nights to becoming a prime-time millionaire: How Joel Dommett became the new Golden Boy of British TV

From performing at open mic nights to becoming a prime-time millionaire: How Joel Dommett became the new Golden Boy of British TV

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In just a few years, Joel Dommett, 39, has become one of the most sought-after men on British television.

In just a few years, Joel Dommett has become one of the most in-demand men on British television.

As the host of three prime-time shows and a regular on breakfast TV, barely a week goes by without the 39-year-old appearing on the small screen.

But success didn’t come overnight for Joel, who moved to London from Gloucestershire at the age of 19 to pursue a career in comedy.

After doing the stand-up circuit for a few years, he managed to land a spot on the current affairs comedy show Russell Howard’s Good News in 2011.

But it would be another five years before Joel’s fame reached a new level when he came in second place on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2016.

Joel has since become one of the busiest TV presenters and has a net worth of over £2 million.

MailOnline takes a look at how Joel became TV’s new Golden Boy.

In just a few years, Joel Dommett, 39, has become one of the most sought-after men on British television.

One of Joel's first television appearances was as DC Sweeney in the E4 teen drama Skins.

One of Joel’s first television appearances was as DC Sweeney in the E4 teen drama Skins.

Joel lived “a very isolated life” growing up on a farm in Gloucestershire, where he and his brother were raised by their mother after their parents divorced.

He discovered a love of acting as a teenager after a two-week course at the National Youth Theater in London when he was 17.

The following year, he performed his first stand-up concert in Los Angeles, where he said “some people laughed.”

House sitting at a friend’s apartment, he discovered a comedy club a few blocks away and tried his luck.

he said The times: ‘I saw one of the open mic nights and decided to give it a try. Everything went well; Some people laughed.

‘On the way home I did that cliche thing of walking down Hollywood Boulevard, looking at all the famous names. That’s when a strange question popped into my head: ‘I wonder if I could make a living doing comedy.’

She won the Stand Up and Coming New Act of the Year award in 2008, but it wouldn’t be until her appearance on Russell Howard’s Good News that her career kicked into high gear.

After appearing on shows including Skins, Reality Bites and Bring The Noise, Joel took part in I’m A Celebrity in 2016 and finished second.

Joel took part in I'm A Celebrity in 2016 and finished as runner-up.

Joel took part in I’m A Celebrity in 2016 and finished as runner-up.

During his time in the jungle, the comedian spoke candidly about a private sex tape of his that was released without his permission.

During his time in the jungle, the comedian spoke candidly about a private sex tape of his that was released without his permission.

During his time in the jungle, the comedian spoke candidly about a private sex tape of his that was released without his permission.

The star was tricked into having online sex with someone posing as Russian model Natalia Noir, and the anonymous troll then cruelly posted the images online.

Joel told his campmates: ‘They catfished me. Someone messaged me on Twitter and said, “Do you want to have sex on Skype?” and I was like, “yeah, okay.” I did it, I’m so naive. Three years later they published it, about a week before I got here.

When asked if it was “something to be proud of,” Joel showed he saw the funny side of the debacle and responded, “No, what a terrible angle,” prompting laughter from his campmates.

Joel’s career accelerated after how well he was received by the public on the show.

She returned to Australia for the next three years to present the I’m A Celebrity spin-off show, Extra Camp.

In 2019, he landed what has become one of his best-known jobs to date when ITV bosses tapped him to host the UK version of The Masked Singer.

In 2019, he landed what has become one of his best-known jobs to date when ITV bosses tapped him to host the UK version of The Masked Singer.

In 2019, he landed what has become one of his best-known jobs to date when ITV bosses tapped him to host the UK version of The Masked Singer.

Proving that he was now one of the best television presenters in the country, Joel was chosen to present the National Television Awards that same year.

Proving that he was now one of the best television presenters in the country, Joel was chosen to present the National Television Awards that same year.

The annual show celebrates the best of television and has been presented by David Wallaims, Dermot O'Leary and Sir Trevor McDonald (pictured with Holly Willoughby at the 2024 ceremony).

The annual show celebrates the best of television and has been presented by David Wallaims, Dermot O’Leary and Sir Trevor McDonald (pictured with Holly Willoughby at the 2024 ceremony).

He has hosted the last four NTA shows and is scheduled to return for the 2025 ceremony (pictured with Davina McCall at the 2024 ceremony).

He has hosted the last four NTA shows and is scheduled to return for the 2025 ceremony (pictured with Davina McCall at the 2024 ceremony).

He has been hosting the show since then and also headlines the spin-off series The Masked Dancer since 2021.

Proving that he was now one of the best television presenters in the country, Joel was chosen to present the National Television Awards that same year.

The annual show pays tribute to the best of British television and has previously been presented by David Wallaims, Dermot O’Leary and Sir Trevor McDonald.

He has hosted the last four NTA shows and is scheduled to return for the 2025 ceremony.

Although his career had been mainly at ITV at the time, BBC bosses took notice of Joel and appointed him host of the new version of Survivor in 2023.

Unfortunately, the show failed to maintain a large audience and the broadcaster decided to cancel it after one series.

Joel wasn’t down for long, however, as he was again chosen by the BBC to be one of the hosts of Comic Relief 2023 alongside Zoe Ball, Paddy McGuinness, David Tennant and AJ Odudu.

Most recently, he returned to his I’m A Celebrity roots as co-host of new spin-off series Unpacked with Sam Thompson and Kemi Rogers.

His success on camera meant Joel was earning £2,500 a day in 2023.

Although his career had been mainly at ITV at the time, BBC bosses took notice of Joel and appointed him host of the Survivor remake in 2023.

Although his career had been mainly at ITV at the time, BBC bosses took notice of Joel and appointed him host of the Survivor remake in 2023.

He and his wife Hannah Cooper, 34, welcomed their first child in September 2023.

He and his wife Hannah Cooper, 34, welcomed their first child in September 2023.

Joel and Hannah had kept the sex of their baby a secret throughout their pregnancy, but revealed that they had welcomed a son named Wilde on Instagram.

Joel and Hannah had kept the sex of their baby a secret during their pregnancy, but revealed that they had welcomed a son named Wilde on Instagram.

His performing arts company, Neon Hero, reported its profits at Companies House, revealing that Joel grossed £2.3m in the last 12 months compared to £1.4m a year earlier.

The company has £1,108,653 in cash, as well as £980,832 in investments and £251,916 in money owed.

Joel retained £2,090,625 in profits in his company, including £814,831 for the year, which is more than ten times greater than the £71,096 profits made in 2022.

Joel set up Neon Hero in 2012, and its first trading profit in 2013 was £13,944, before soaring to £2.3 million in 10 years.

The presenter and his wife Hannah Cooper announced the birth of their first child Wilde in September 2023.

The couple, who married in 2019, revealed their baby’s unique name when they shared the first photo.

Wrapped in a blanket, Hannah shared a snap of her baby’s feet and wrote: ‘Wilde Cooper-Dommett. Pinterest perfect baby feet that are already bigger than their dad’s.

Joel and Hannah met after she sent him direct messages following her appearance on I’m A Celebrity in 2016, sending him a heart eye emoji.

The couple announced their engagement in December 2017 after a year of dating, and in May 2019 they confirmed that they had bought their first home together.

In 2018, he told Metro.co.uk: “This is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.” It’s easy. It’s not difficult to talk about the future.’

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