I stopped Joel doing Strictly because I fear curse & infamous jinx isn’t only reason, says Hannah Cooper-Dommett
APPEARING on Strictly Come Dancing could well be the highlight of comic Joel Dommett’s career.
But he will never find out — because his wife doesn’t want her four-year marriage to fall foul of the show’s infamous curse.
Model Hannah Cooper-Dommett says Masked Singer and Masked Dancer host Joel has been approached to go on the BBC dance show but she steered him away due to it leaving a raft of broken relationships in its wake.
In an exclusive interview Hannah, 35, tells the Sun on Sunday: “I have a rule with Joel that I’d rather, if there was a choice, he didn’t do Strictly.
“I hate to say it, but the Strictly curse. It has been proven — that’s why I believe in it. He can practise the tango at home with me, it’s fine.”
Dutch-born Hannah reckons the notorious jinx isn’t the only reason she reckons Joel, 39, should not compete for the Glitterball trophy.
“He’s awful at dancing,” she explains.
The pair met in 2016 after Hannah, who has modelled for Barbour and M&S, drunkenly sent him a message on Instagram after he finished runner-up on I’m A Celebrity.
Joel has credited Hannah with his recent career success, saying she keeps him “grounded” and “happy” and that he would be a “horrible” person without her.
After marrying in 2019 they have hosted ITV series Home Alone With Joel Dommett, launched their podcast Never Have I Ever, appeared on Dave comedy series Meet The Richardsons and, last September, had their son, Wilde.
Less than a year later Hannah looks incredible — appearing to have her pre-baby body back.
But she says Joel has had to get used to her switching to mummy pants.
Talking at the Mean Girls musical premiere at swanky London hotel The Savoy, she says: “I’ve just stood in my first pair of control pants and they’re hard to get on in this heat.
“He’s always known me with a nude thong, so it’s different.
“It’s just a little bit longer to get ready for bed now.
“When you’re a model, you have to wear nude underwear all the time. Now they’re just a bit bigger, and they stretch up to my boobs.
“It doesn’t bounce back. You kinda mould it in.”
And whereas Joel is keen on the gym, Hannah is less of a fan, but adds: “Having Wilde, that’s a routine in itself.
“I do love Pilates and things like that, but every time I pick Wilde up, it’s a squat.
“It’s a slower process, and I’m happy with that.
‘Mummy pants’
“It will bounce back one day, right?”
Something else that will need to get back into shape is Hannah’s social life, as she revealed her struggles with “mum guilt”.
She says: “The mum guilt thing is real, definitely, and if I’m not feeling guilty, then Joel will be feeling guilty, so we’re probably not that helpful to each other.
“There are times when he’ll say, ‘I’ll look after Wilde. Go out and have fun’. Then he’ll send me a message saying, ‘Look at this photo of Wilde’, and I’ll go, ‘Damn it, I was in the zone with the girls’.
“It is difficult managing it but you’ve got to switch off and take an hour for yourself, then you’ll feel better for it.”
Despite the impact of motherhood on her body and social life, Hannah would love a second baby — although she already feels like she has two kids at home.
Laughing, she says Joel, who has just been announced as the host of September’s National Television Awards, is like a big brother to little Wilde.
She says: “I really would love to, but Joel before was like, ‘one is good’. One means we’re in control, and we can totally manage that.
“But now Wilde is here, I would totally love another one.
“I feel like Joel is Wilde’s sibling. I feel like there is enough fun in the house, and there is enough drama and energy going on.
“You never know what the future holds but, otherwise, a puppy. It’s either or . . .”
Hannah is also keen for them to mark their fifth year of marriage with a ceremony, although Joel suspects an ulterior motive.
She says: “Every year I tell Joel we should renew our vows, but he says I just want another ring.
“We’re coming up to five years and I’m like, ‘Should we have another wedding?’
“He’s like, ‘You just want another ring’, and I say, ‘Yes, and that too’.
“So if I could have a ring for every year we’re married, I’d be fine, and there doesn’t need to be a wedding. Just one for each finger is fine.”
After the couple got engaged, Joel had said: “This is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.
“It’s easy. Nothing feels difficult about talking about the future.”
The loved-up couple married in a romantic ceremony on the Greek island of Mykonos in 2019 and honeymooned in Mexico.
And Hannah — who was talent- spotted by a modelling scout outside Topshop in London’s Oxford Circus aged 16 — clearly shares Joel’s sense of humour.
‘You love them so much’
During her pregnancy she showed off snaps of her baby bump with the message: “Does anyone know how to change a nappy? Because Joel has s**t himself.”
Joel has said Wilde has given him a “reason to work and another reason to come home” adding: “I just love my little family and our little gang.
“It feels like the first time I’ve ever had a friend. It’s absolutely lovely.”
Hannah seems equally enamoured and has become a doting mum since Wilde’s arrival.
Laughing, she said: “It’s all the cliches that they said. You love them so much and then they do something, and you’re like, ‘No . . . oh my God!’, and then they do something else cute again and you’re back in.”
2007: Flavia Cacace dumped fellow pro Vincent Simone for actor Matt Di Angelo.
She later wed actor Jimi Mistry, her partner in the 2010 series.
2009: Boxer Joe Calzaghe fell for dance partner Kristina Rihanoff after dumping girlfriend Jo-Emma Larvin.
2013: Rugby ace Ben Cohen left wife Abby for Kristina.
Countdown’s Rachel Riley split from her husband.
She is now married to Strictly partner Pasha Kovalev.
2016: Pop singer Louise Redknapp said taking part led to her 19 years with former footballer Jamie unravelling.
2018: Seann Walsh’s snog with dance partner Katya Jones ended his romance with actress Rebecca Humphries.
Katya split from Strictly pro Neil Jones.
Stacey Dooley split from her boyfriend and later dated dance partner Kevin Clifton.
2020: The Wanted singer Max George and Stacey Giggs parted.
He dates fellow contestant Maisie Smith.
2021: Swimmer Adam Peaty’s ex Eiri Munro says Strictly was “the beginning of the end”.
Adam dates Holly Ramsay, sister of his series co-star Tilly.