Ben Fogle, the well-known presenter of BBC’s Countryfile, recently shared a heartfelt confession about a secret he kept from his family during his appearance on The Masked Singer. The 52-year-old broadcaster took on the mysterious persona of Sloth, keeping his identity hidden for weeks as the panel and viewers speculated on who was behind the mask.
In a candid interview with the Express, Ben explained the challenges of maintaining secrecy: “I decided to really go for it. It was very hard keeping it a secret from my family. I did tell my wife because I was pretty convinced she would think I was having an affair or something if I didn’t tell her and then disappeared every Saturday night.”
Interestingly, Ben chose not to inform his children ahead of time, making the reveal a complete surprise for them. “They had no inkling at all. They were open-mouthed when they saw it because it was so different from anything I’ve ever done,” he said.
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Reflecting on embracing new opportunities beyond his usual presenting roles, Ben shared his outlook on life and career: “I’m so lucky to travel and do really fun things. Turning 50 made me realize it’s time to make the most of life. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously, but shaking things up can be really refreshing.”
He also expressed openness to future diverse projects: “If another show came along that was challenging and fun, and very different from my day-to-day work, I’d definitely consider it. If it’s as much fun as The Masked Singer was, it’s worth it.”
Currently, Ben is touring the UK with his theatrical show WILD, where he recounts inspiring stories from his extraordinary adventures. Drawing from experiences ranging from the wilderness of Sweden to the rainforests of Honduras, his show offers audiences a blend of hope, optimism, and personal discovery.
Ben explained the inspiration behind WILD: “People often ask me about living off-grid or embarking on expeditions. I wanted to give them a behind-the-scenes glimpse, with illustrations, videos, music, and plenty of anecdotes.”
Countryfile airs on BBC One Sundays and is available on BBC iPlayer.