Masked Singer winner Nicola Roberts was so pleased to be asked to judge the final of this year’s show that she joked about starring again.
The ex-Girls Aloud star, Queen Bee in the 2020 contest, reveals: “I was so excited I said ‘Do you have a spare costume as I honestly don’t mind throwing it on.’
“I had such a happy experience on the show. I was so jealous that I was only there for the final this time as the rest of the judges were there the whole season.”
And, ahead of the final, Nicola, 35, had a hint about one of the faces behind remaining contestants Badger, Robin and Sausage.
She says she was a childhood fan of one of the trio and adds: “I knew instantly who it was.
"I was just freaking out that they were on the show.
Having now seen the ITV show from both sides of the panel, Nicola also has a word of advice for fellow judges Rita Ora, Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan: Some clues aren’t always what they seem.
She explains: “The judges would go ‘Oh but last week they said this and the week before they said that’. And I said ‘Yes, but they lie!’
“The panel would take every clue as gospel and I knew that there was so many red herrings.”
Nicola is backing Badger to win.
She says: “I absolutely love him. His voice is brilliant and he’s very cute.”
Knowing the show inside out, Nicola was able to work out who some of the earlier stars were.
She says: “I guessed Sophie Ellis-Bexter immediately. There’s no mistaking her voice. Gabrielle too.
"But I could not for the life of me get Sue Perkins as Dragon.”
Last week Sue admitted she was nervous when her identity was finally revealed. And Nicola knows that feeling.
She says: “The costume gives you confidence.
“You have this anonymity and it’s like this bubble around you that is so safe and unbreakable.”
Surprisingly, there have been no leaks about the singers’ identity.
Nicola says it’s all because of the high security back stage.
When she took part she had to wear a balaclava, hoodie, gloves, visor and gloves so no part of her body was visible.
She says: “You’re kept in your dressing room and a guard who takes you from there to the vocal coach cabin or on set.”
Nicola has been busy writing songs during lockdown and hopes she can pick up plans to star in the West End musical City Of Angels when restrictions ease.
But she says there are no plans for a Girls Aloud reunion.
However they are still the best of pals and speak regularly.
She says: “We’re all really close. We are closer than ever. Thank god for technology.”
- The Masked Singer, Saturday, 7pm, ITV.
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