I know a lot of people can’t live and work together but
genuinely I love it. She is naturally very good at things
and I have to try really hard just to be average at things.
Like putting the bins out. But she embraces my
weirdness and we’re both very open. We are very
similar. Maybe it’s the West Country part of me that
likes the incestuous nature of trying to get with myself.
Hannah
I’ve learnt to speak up for myself over the years
modelling. Having a personality is the only thing that
differentiates you. Being with Joel I wasn’t Hannah,
I became Joel Dommett’s girlfriend. It’s frustrating
because I’m my own person. Joel’s always been very
good, introducing me, deflecting attention from him
We maintained long-distance relationship for the
first three months when I was working in Australia. He
wanted to pick me up from the airport and take me for
breakfast when I got back. At Dubai airport I was putting
on every free sample in duty-free. I thought, “Who’s
nuts enough to pick someone up from a 24-hour
flight?” It felt like the decider of whether we’d carry on
seeing each other. We decided to go for it.
He’s the least rock’n’roll person I could have chosen.
Other comedians wind down after a show with a beer.
PORTRAIT BY PAUL STUART
STRANGE
HABITS
Joel on Hannah
She hates it
when I fall asleep
before her so
makes me watch
really boring
YouTube clips
on my phone.
She nods off and
I’m left learning
about the
Egyptians for
25 minutesHannah on Joel
He eats porridge
in bed every
single nightJoel just wants to get home and work out in his garage
gym. He’s a creature of comfort. He likes being at
home. He’s in my phone as Sausage Joel because he
loves sausage rolls. We pick on each other a lot but in a
jokey way. That’s the through-line of our relationship.
He’s also very funny. On our first date he said he was
6ft 2in [they are both 5ft 11in]. He counts his fringe in
his height. I say I won’t get a particular shoe as I’ll look
ridiculous next to him but he says he loves it.
I go to as many of his gigs as I can. I know his tour off
by heart, so if he was ever sick I could step in. He knows
I will tell him if it wasn’t his best gig and he’ll say if he
doesn’t necessarily like a photo from a shoot. It’s not an
insult. I know that his agent isn’t going to say that, or
his mum. It hasn’t got us into too much trouble yet.
We know how the other’s brain works, which is
advantageous. Some people have come forward since
we started doing a podcast together and said I’m funny.
He says, “Yes, but I set the jokes up for you.” I can’t lie.
He’s taught me about humour and timing. But I’d argue
he has a much better wardrobe now thanks to me nInterviews by Kate Leahy.
Episodes of Joel and Hannah’s podcast, Never Have
I Ever, are out every MondayThe Sunday Times Magazine • 7