Ben Shephard opened up about fooling his ITV co-stars on The Masked Singer - after his This Morning co-host Cat Deeley was left crying.
In Saturday's series seven final, Ben, 51, was unmasked as the endearing Conkers, placing as the runner-up.
The judges and host Joel Dommett were all gobsmacked, especially as Ben featured as a guest judge only a few episodes earlier.
Speaking after the unmasking, the Tipping Point presenter addressed the deception involved to keep his identity a secret.
Ben shared: 'As a rule, I think I'm pretty straight down the line, and the fact I got to do something so underhand...'
'Davina was talking to me in the most minute detail about what happens when you're a contestant on the show. I was asking her loads of questions.'
In a further twist, This Morning star Ben had even appeared as a guest judge earlier in the same series.
He added: 'The bizarre thing is, I have been interviewing all the unmasked celebrities on This Morning.'
'They have no idea I'm on the show and still in it!
'It's an isolating experience going on this show, as you can't tell anyone. I can't wait to be able to talk to everyone about it.'
After The Masked Singer uploaded Ben's unveiling as Conkers to his Instagram, his TV colleagues soon shared their reactions.
Cat Deeley commented: ''The costume ! I cried the first time I saw it !!!!', adding several emojis.
Meanwhile, Gaby Roslin penned: 'Still screaming. That was BRILLIANT.'
Lorraine Kelly wrote: 'Fabulous!!!'
The star-studded reveals also included Sugababes' Keisha Buchanan as winner Moth and actress Mica Paris as third-place Toastie.
Following the final, The Masked Singer host Joel, 40, shared a hilarious video of his own son, two, letting the cat out of the bag about the identity of this year's runner-up.
Taking to his Instagram, the comedian posted baby monitor footage of him putting his son, Wilde, to bed.
After the final, Joel Dommett shared a hilarious video of his son - the little boy can be heard proudly announcing to his dad: ' Ben Shephard is Conker'
Owning up to his error on Instagram, the presenter shared the clip with the wise caption: 'Don’t tell a 2 year old secrets', adding: 'I got him an NDA and he still told everyone'
Fans were in hysterics over Wilde’s slip, with Ben himself taking to the comments to quip: 'I told him in secret I promise ¿¿¿¿¿¿'
However, the little boy can be heard proudly announcing to his dad: 'Ben Shephard is Conker'.
Stunned, Joel struggles to hold back his laughter, before quickly warning: 'Don't tell anybody else okay'.
Owning up to his error on Instagram, the presenter shared the clip with the wise caption: 'Don't tell a 2 year old secrets', adding: 'I got him an NDA and he still told everyone.'
Fans were in hysterics over Wilde's slip, with Ben himself taking to the comments to quip: 'I told him in secret I promise.'
Though the This Morning host was finally unmasked during the final, the episodes are pre-recorded, meaning Joel and the judging panel find out months before the rest of us.
While audience members also have to abide by strict rules, including signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and handing in their phones.
And Joel previously revealed on Sunday Brunch that the live audience aren't allowed to watch the unmasking either, to ensure complete secrecy.
He said: 'We record the whole show and then they get to the bit where they go "take it off, take it off", 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.'
And contestants themselves are also bound by extreme secrecy, wearing gloves, a visor and a big hoodie saying 'Don't Speak To Me' while backstage, and are forbidden from revealing their identity even to family and close friends.
The Masked Singer is available to watch on ITVX.