Joel Dommett ruined the surprise by accidentally using the star’s name after recognising their distinctive chuckle

FORMER X Factor host Dermot O’Leary proved he has vocal talent of his own when he won last night’s The Masked Singer Christmas special.

The telly favourite, 52, admitted he had taken months of secret coaching before becoming Mistletoe for the costume guessing game.

The Masked Singer logo with a colorful mask above the title.

Dermot O’Leary took secret lessons in preparation for the Masked Singer Christmas specialCredit: ITV

Joel Dommett speaking next to a Mistletoe costume on The Masked Singer.
The judges had already rumbled Dermot’s identityCredit: ITV
Host Joel Dommett ruined the surprise by accidentally using Dermot’s name after recognising his distinctive chuckle.

But panellists Jonathan Ross, Maya Jama, Mo Gilligan and Davina McCall had already rumbled Dermot’s identity.

Dermot said: “It felt good to win. It was a bit of a relief to be unmasked in the end.

“Everyone knew it was me — I think they said it was mainly because of my legs. Not my voice, my legs.”

He fully committed to the singing show, having lessons in belting out festive tunes all summer before performing Fairytale of New York and Last Christmas on the ITV special.

The This Morning host said: “I’d be walking around my kitchen singing Last Christmas in June and July. I’m not like the best singer in the world but I can do a St Patrick’s night or sing at a wedding.

“I sing all the time. I don’t shut up.”

He added: “Fairytale of New York is a great song and I think the song probably won it for me.”

Dermot has been asked to join the main show, which returns on January 3 but could not fit it in his schedule.