Masked Singer Host's Toddler Son Spills Secret Identity of Runner-Up
In a hilarious breach of television's strictest secrecy protocols, The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett has revealed how his own two-year-old son accidentally exposed the identity of this year's runner-up. The comedian shared baby monitor footage showing his son Wilde proudly announcing "Ben Shephard is Conker" just after Saturday night's grand final, creating a viral moment that both delighted fans and highlighted the extraordinary measures taken to maintain the show's mystery.
The Toddler Who Couldn't Keep a Secret
Taking to Instagram following the season finale, the 40-year-old presenter posted the revealing clip of himself putting Wilde to bed. The footage captures the exact moment when the toddler enthusiastically shares the confidential information, leaving Dommett struggling to contain his laughter before quickly warning: "Don't tell anybody else okay." Owning up to his parenting error, Dommett captioned the post with the wise observation: "Don't tell a 2 year old secrets," adding humorously: "I got him an NDA and he still told everyone."
The slip sent fans into hysterics, with Ben Shephard himself joining the conversation in the comments section to quip: "I told him in secret I promise ❤️❤️❤️." This lighthearted exchange underscored the show's culture of secrecy while demonstrating how even the most careful plans can be undone by a toddler's innocent enthusiasm.
Extreme Secrecy Measures Behind the Scenes
While Wilde's accidental reveal provided comic relief, it highlighted the extraordinary lengths to which The Masked Singer goes to protect its contestants' identities. The show operates under an elaborate system of non-disclosure agreements, with stars, crew, and audience members all sworn to secrecy. Episodes are pre-recorded months in advance, meaning Dommett and the judging panel discover the identities long before viewers see the unmasking.
Audience members face particularly strict rules, including signing comprehensive NDAs and surrendering their phones before entering the studio. Dommett previously revealed on Sunday Brunch that even the live audience isn't permitted to witness the actual unmasking moment. "We record the whole show and then they get to the bit where they go 'take it off, take it off'," he explained. "They go to take off the mask and that's the point where - I don't know if I'm allowed to announce this - we then get rid of the audience so they can then keep it a secret."
Contestants' Extreme Disguises and Isolation
Contestants themselves endure extreme secrecy measures, wearing gloves, visors, and oversized hoodies bearing the message "Don't Speak To Me" while backstage. They are forbidden from revealing their participation even to family members and close friends, creating what Ben Shephard described as "an isolating experience." The This Morning host reflected on the peculiar situation of interviewing unmasked celebrities on his daytime show while secretly remaining in the competition himself.
Shephard explained his motivation for joining the show, saying he had vowed to do "more scary things" following his 50th birthday. He expressed particular excitement about Cat Deeley's sons seeing his unmasking, noting: "Cat's boys love the show, I can't wait." Despite finishing as runner-up to champion Moth (revealed as Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan), Shephard's reveal stunned both viewers and the judging panel, with Davina McCall calling it "one of her favourite reveals ever."
Previous Secrecy Breaches and Production Challenges
This isn't the first time Dommett has encountered secrecy issues on the show. He recently admitted getting into trouble with ITV bosses after accidentally identifying a celebrity during The Masked Singer Christmas special in December. While on stage talking to the character Mistletoe, he recognized his friend Dermot O'Leary's distinctive laugh and blurted out his name, causing the studio audience to erupt with laughter as he dropped to the floor in shame.
"I can't believe I did it," Dommett told The Sun. "This person was chuckling in the costume and it's a chuckle I know well and I said their name. It just came out. Their actual name!" He added that producers "reiterated to me that I wasn't to do that again. I was on the naughty step."
Season Highlights and Contestant Experiences
The 2026 series featured several memorable moments beyond Wilde's accidental reveal. Champion Keisha Buchanan (Moth) said performing on the show had made her "more confident" after years of performing with the Sugababes, though she confessed to trying to "change her voice" to mislead the judges. She expressed surprise at her victory, noting: "There were so many amazing singers on the show, especially Toastie, so I honestly didn't expect to get so far down the competition."
Third-place finisher Mica Paris (Toastie) delivered a sensational duet with guest judge Samantha Barks before her unmasking. The iconic soul singer and soap star revealed she participated for her two grandchildren, calling the experience "gruelling but beautiful." She expressed particular surprise that judges Davina McCall and Jonathan Ross, who have known her "for years," struggled to identify her voice.
Paris reflected on the vocal challenges she faced, saying: "I did a song that I've never done, like Whitney [Houston], I've never sung a Whitney song! Aerosmith, that was the scariest one. Whitney and Aerosmith were the hardest because I knew her, I never wanted to do her songs because I loved her so much. And Aerosmith, I just can't rap to save my life so it was such a challenge."
The season demonstrated that while production can control audience behavior and contestant movements, even the most elaborate secrecy measures cannot account for the unpredictable honesty of a two-year-old with exciting news to share.
