'IT'S ABOUT TO TO GET SPICY!'

As 'brutal' endurance show Survivor returns to UK screens, Joel Dommett is grateful that he's hosting and not competing

Joel Dommett is putting 18 brave contestants through the ultimate endurance test on BBC One’s Survivor, as the cast become castaways on a tropical island.

However, the presenter is tackling one of life’s biggest challenges himself – parenthood – and it’s changed the way he approaches his telly career.

“I feel like I’m ready to take on this next chapter,” says Joel, 38, whose wife, 32-year-old model Hannah Cooper, gave birth to their son Wilde in September. “I love saying yes to stuff and I love my job, so I don’t know why I’d say no… whereas now, there’s a reason to say no.

“But I feel very lucky I’ve got to this point in my career where I’ve set out my stall a little bit with the shows I’ve got around the year – so hopefully I can relax a little bit now and enjoy that time and be a good dad.”

As for what a good dad is, the Masked Singer host isn’t yet sure what his parenting style will be – but he won’t be afraid to embarrass his son.

“He’ll have me wrapped around his little finger. I’ll certainly be an embarrassing dad, that’s for sure. It’s going to be material for the next 18 years!” he laughs.

Aside from little Wilde, Joel is focusing on Survivor – a British version of the US hit in which people compete in gruelling challenges while foraging for food in the wild.