Masked Singer host Joel Dommett has finally lifted the lid on a behind-the-scenes moment he says was the ‘funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.’
The comedian and presenter, 39, joined Fearne Cotton on BBC Radio 2 this week, where he recalled his most memorable reveal on The Masked Singer UK, and naturally, it featured Macy Gray’s infamous exit.
Asked if he had a favourite unmasking, Joel didn’t hesitate – but it wasn’t just Macy Gray’s name that made it special.
‘It was so awkward,’ he laughed, before calling the moment ‘the best reveal for so many reasons’ and admitting it was comedy gold from start to finish.
What made it even funnier? The fact that Macy, disguised in an enormous toad costume, tried to storm off the stage in protest, and the producers cut Joel’s best line from the episode.
‘We did the reveal – Macy Gray – everyone’s happy… apart from her,’ Joel laughed during the radio chat.
He then revealed the line he delivered during her now-viral walk-off:
‘It’s Macy Gray everybody… she said goodbye – and she croaked.’
Cue Fearne trying not to burst into fits of laughter.
But as Joel revealed, the moment never made it to air.
‘They cut it out. I’m absolutely livid about that,’ he joked. ‘Might be the funniest I have ever been.’
Apparently, even The Masked Singer has its limits when it comes to froggy wordplay.
The incident unfolded during a previous season when Macy Gray competed in disguise as ‘Toad in the Hole’ – sporting a purple suit whilst wearing what can only be described as a Yorkshire pudding belt.
Fans instantly suspected the Grammy-winning artist behind the mask thanks to her distinctive vocals – but producers chose to unmask a different contestant, a decision which did not go down well with the American singer.
When she was finally eliminated and unmasked, Joel described her reaction as nothing short of TV history.
‘One of the characters gets voted off, and they are really not happy about it. Like genuinely,’ he said in a separate interview with Principle Magazine.
‘You can’t be vexed when you’re dressed as a toad,’ he laughed.
And yet, that’s exactly what happened.
According to Joel, Macy refused to come back on stage for over an hour after her unmasking. What audiences saw on air was just a fraction of the tension backstage.
Describing the visual, Joel has previously said watching a six-foot toad sulking off stage was the most hilarious thing he’s ever witnessed on set.
And it seems The Masked Singer team weren’t quite sure how to handle it either. Despite the polished edit that eventually aired, production scrambled to coax her back on stage so the show could finish the segment.
The Masked Singer is no stranger to bizarre TV moments. From dramatic walk-offs to wild guesses and tearful reveals, the show thrives on unpredictability – but Macy’s exit might just top the list.
The U.S. star isn’t the first celebrity to take issue with their portrayal on the show, but according to Joel, her reaction set a new bar.
Joel told Paddy McGuinness in a previous Radio 2 interview, ‘She’s a legend with a recognisable voice, and we all knew it was her.’
Even now, months after it aired, Joel still ranks it as his top moment on the show.
Whether or not his ‘croaked’ joke ever gets resurrected in a blooper reel remains to be seen, but fans are calling for an uncut version to finally surface.
Until then, Joel will just have to settle for the honour of surviving Masked Singer’s most awkward diva exit – in hot pants, no less.
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