THE MASKS ARE OFF...

Now this year’s Masked Singers have been revealed, we caught up with Robobunny and winner Panda to hear their take on the craziest guessing game on TV

They entertained us week in, week out as they took to the Masked Singer stage as fan favourites Panda and Robobunny. And since being unmasked, winner Natalie Imbruglia and finalist Mark Feehily’s feet have barely touched the ground.

Thanks to the show, Aussie singer and actress Natalie, 47, and Westlife star Mark, 41, are firmly back in the spotlight, with big plans for the future. Natalie, who did the show for her two-year-old son Max Valentine, has released new music, including covers of the songs she performed on the show, like One Direction hit Story Of My Life. And it’s rumoured that Mark, who’s dad to daughter Layla, two, is being lined up for a major new role in a musical after showing off his powerhouse vocals.

Here, they tell us all the behind-the-scenes secrets from the crazy ITV show, how their children reacted to them taking part and what they got out of the once-ina-lifetime experience…

Had you watched

Singer before taking part?

Yes. I remember seeing Viking (A-ha’s Morten Harket) and loving his voice. Also Queen Bee (Nicola Roberts) and Sausage

(Joss Stone) grabbed my attention.

What made you decide to take on the challenge?

I was craving to do something different, outside of my comfort zone vocally.

I really wanted to add comedy to my character, so when it was agreed I’d be allowed to do the two-voice thing, I signed up.

What did you think of your mask, your overall look and the character you got to play?

I had a very difficult costume. It literally had to be operated with me having to move the rabbit’s mouth using a mechanism in my right hand as I sang and did the voice changing, all while singing songs I’d never sung before and bolted into an extremely heavy wooden robot suit. I wanted to set myself a huge challenge and by the end of it I did think, “What the hell have I let myself in for here?!” I was very proud watching it on TV and my daughter was freaking out because she recognised my voice and was looking at the Robobunny and was just confused!

Why did you opt for this particular character?

For me, when I saw Robobunny I immediately came up with the idea that the rabbit could duet with the robot and there could be two different characters, which got me so excited. I only wanted to do it if I could do something different to what had been done before.

How about the clue packages – what kind of input did you have on those and do you have a favourite nugget of information from them?

Sometimes the clue packages even had me confused! Another element I had not prepared myself for was the VT voiceovers and the fact that I would have to disguise my voice/accent. I immediately came out with this Bugs Bunny type accent, which is obviously straight from my childhood. Backstage the Bunny was quite naughty!

Were there any nerves when you first performed as your character?

Being hidden inside the costume gave me a chance to forget about what I look like for the first time in my career. I’ve always struggled with self-esteem and self-image and thankfully more recently have stopped caring as much.

If you could wear your mask and costume just one more time, what occasion would you choose to wear it to?

I’d love to do stand up comedy in it somewhere and show everybody the naughty side of the Bunny.

things I’ve done in my life so far.

Were there any nerves when you first performed as your character?

I was terrified and I can’t remember the first two performances. I thought the mask would make me feel more confident, but it took a while to get used to. Your voice is booming back at you, so that’s strange at first. By the third performance I was loving it. You sweat a lot too, so that made me feel better about eating all the treats in the dressing room.

What did you think of the panel’s guesses?

Most of them I was very flattered. Sia, Lisa Stansfield, Vanessa Hudgens, Billie Piper. Some were just silly. Jonathan said Bear Grylls. Mo said Jennifer Hudson, which is flattering but a stretch. I’m a big fan of hers.

If you could wear your mask and costume just one more time, what occasion would you choose to wear it to?

Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball or The Oscars. Somewhere that I’d be very out of character.