The Masked Singer’s Gloria Hunniford reveals show secrets

THE Masked Singer’s Gloria Hunniford has revealed some of the shows top secrets from behind-the-scene – including bosses VERY strict rules for her family.

The Loose Women panellist, 81, has also revealed that she’s rooting for Poodle to WIN the show after a showstopping performance of Elton John’s Rocketman.

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On Sunday’s instalment, the broadcaster disguised herself as a Snow Leopard and belted out Peggy Lee’s Big Spender – but was sadly the second contestant to be eliminated from this year’s series.

The Rip off Britain star admitted that she told husband Stephen Way and her two sons Michael and Paul that she was taking part in the show, with bosses requiring her family sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Speaking to The Sun, Gloria said: “It really surprised me and shocked me in a way, is the amount of secrecy and how they manage to keep it.

“I was only allowed to tell four people, including a driver. There was my husband Stephen and my two sons Michael and Paul.

“I felt like I had to tell them otherwise I would have never been forgiven. I said honestly, you can’t tell your other half just in case it slips out innocently.

“They were very good and a driver called Ray, he had to know because he had to drive me backwards and forwards to the studio.

“I was terrified to not let anything out because they make you sign an NDA for secrecy, even the driver and my husband and sons had to sign it. I was amazed how they keep it secret.”

She did manage to keep tight-lipped in the end and even hid the secret from her Loose Women co-stars who were “shocked and surprised” when they discovered Gloria was behind the mask.

The Irish star spilled the beans on the enormous lengths the bosses go to keep the identities top secret.

Discussing if she had any close encounters with any other contestants backstage, she said: “Not a clue, I didn’t bump into anybody, I didn’t see anybody come off. I didn’t see anybody leave without their clobber on. I didn’t know anybody. I was trying to guess last night.”

Gloria revealed that that the masked celebrities had to wear “dreadful balaclavas” around six times a day and were not allowed to leave their dressing rooms until your told to.

She said: “The clobber I was talking about is probably more bothersome than the actual costume, because 15 minutes before you get to the studio you have to put on a sweatshirt that says ‘don’t talk to me’.

“You have to have black trousers, black shoes, you have to have a black balaclava, you have to have a hood up and a black visor.

“I did see someone else in the gear but I did not see anyone in there.”

Top secret

Gloria told us that she was not allowed to speak to anyone backstage unless they were wearing a specific sweatshirt.

“Because I talk for a living I find it very even the doorman I would automatically say hi, so I had to teach myself,” the TV presenter continued.

“Just as I had a sweatshirt that said don’t talk to me, there were other people who had sweatshirts that said ‘talk to me’.

“Other than that, you’re in your dressing room all the time. I didn’t bump into anyone, they keep you hidden away until you have to go out.

“Where I find the balaclava difficult, is there are portacabins outside the studio building – so if you had to go outside for voiceovers or vocal coaching or if you had to go out all of that stuff had to go on again.

“So the dreaded balaclava was on again. Sometimes in one day you’d have to wear it 5 or 6 times – so that was more restricting because if you’ve ever worn a balaclava you can’t do very much in it. That in a way was more restricting than the costume.”

When Gloria slipped into her Snow Leopard costume, she also struggled to see anything, meaning she was no chance of her getting a sneak peek at the other contestants.

“I literally could only see the judges, I could see there were four people but I couldn’t see detail. I couldn’t see any of the audience, I could barely see the stage and thank god someone could walk me down a very dark tunnel and placed me on the stage,” Gloria explained.

I think I wouldn’t be unhappy if he or she won it – I think it’s a guy…I thought they were fantastic.

Gloria Hunniford

Judge Jonathan Ross hit the nail on the head, successfully deducing Gloria’s radio background despite telling us that she tried to hide her Irish accent with vocal coaching.

She added: “I was surprised because I know Jonathan [Ross] for yonks, but I was surprised because I think they distort your voice and the vocal coach got me to drop my Irishisms but a few people have said that as soon as you start to sing I got you.”

Gloria admitted that she has no idea who the other famous faces – but has already predicted an early winner.

The presenter said: “I haven’t a clue – this is he god’s honest truth, I haven’t a clue who else is in the programme.

“I thought the person who sang Rocketman [Poodle] was fantastic, I don’t know who that is, not a clue even.

“I was in my little dressing room backstage because I was going on next and when I heard that song I thought oh my god, I thought it was fantastic.

“Someone said they thought it was the best version of Rocketman they’ve heard.  I think I wouldn’t be unhappy if he or she won it – I think it’s a guy.

“One of my sons Michael managed to get in for the performance and he said ‘whoever sang Rocketman, oh my goodness, my wee mummy has to come out and sing after that’. Which made me laugh when he told me afterwards.”

The TV legend previously had a singing career, releasing two albums in the 70s and performing at The Royal Variety Performance in 1985.

Gloria narrowly lost out to Bagpipes, who the judges think is a former tennis pro, and Rockhopper, who some think is a Pussycat Doll.

Gloria’s unmasking comes a day after M People singer Heather Small, 56, was revealed as Chandelier.

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