• [Dailystar Icon]
• TV
• The Masked Singer

Dermot O'Leary secret exposed as 'difficult' ordeal left This Morning star 'terrified'

Dermot O'Leary has been keeping something hidden from his fans after he was forced to keep quiet for six months, which proved "difficult" for the television presenter

Dermot O'Leary's big mystery has finally been unveiled after half a year of secrecy.

The This Morning presenter has been keeping his role on The Masked Singer a secret for six months after winning the Christmas special.

The telly host was revealed as Mistletoe in the Boxing Day episode, which aired on ITV, and said he had some serious fun while training for the "difficult" stint. He said: "Im not the best singer in the world but I can do a St Patricks night or sing at a wedding. I sing all the time, I dont shut up. I love the secrecy and the subterfuge to a point. I did costume fittings back in the summer and I started doing vocal coaching then too."

Dermot also confessed that he's had secret singing lessons since the summer before starring on the ITV show: "Id be walking around my kitchen singing Last Christmas in June and July!"

[Dermot O'Leary was crowned as the 2025 Christmas Special winner]

Dermot O'Leary was crowned as the 2025 Christmas Special winner(Image: ITV)

However, Dermot did admit that he confided in his This Morning co-star for tips before appearing on the hit show. The 52-year-old said: "I must confess, I did tell Alison Hammond because she had done it before and I got her advice, but it was difficult, especially the closer it got to Christmas and the show was going to air."

"I was performing Fairytale of New York which is a great song, I think the song probably won it for me if Im honest. I sang that and Last Christmas in the final. It was a bit of a relief to be unmasked in the end!"

[The This Morning star belted out Fairytale of New York for his adoring audience]

The This Morning star belted out Fairytale of New York for his adoring audience(Image: ITV)

Dermot donned a mistletoe costume for the festive special after previously turning down offers to take part in the main series: "I had no vision at all. Its quite claustrophobic and its quite tight in the costume, which is fine as long as you deal with that. It was actually quite nice because Im used to talking for a living and in this show, people arent allowed to talk to you."

[Dermot said he was "terrified" of stacking it in his costume]

Dermot said he was "terrified" of stacking it in his costume(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

"You are on your own with your thoughts which is quite weird, but youre also terrified of falling over. One time I had to walk from the back of the stage to the front, around a table, and there was quite a big drop off the stage quite near it. Its a weighty costume. Its not easy and I like to dance as well."

"Everyone knew it was me, I think they said it was mainly because of my legs! Not my voice, my legs! I was like: 'Why has Jonathan Ross been looking at my legs?"

Join the Daily Star's WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more

Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here

Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.