Davina McCall on The Masked Singer

ITV’s The Masked Singer is back with a new series on Saturday nights at 6.30pm. Davina McCall is back and here she spills the beans on what we can expect.

How excited are you to be back on The Masked Singer?
Oh, it’s really, really good this season. I mean, it’s good every season, but I’ve been really, really enjoying the reveals this year. I think one of the things that I’ve really liked is that quite often on this series, there’s one of us that gets it right when the reveal happens. But actually, we’ve had quite a few where none of us have guessed right.

How would you rate the standard of the singers this year?
What’s nice about this show is it’s not a talent contest. They’re very, very good at getting a real mixture of unbelievable breathtaking talent, that if they’re not a singer, you’re thinking, “Well, you should be.” I think, with a mask on, there’s no embarrassment or self- consciousness going on, so they really just let rip and do what you do best. But then at the same time, there are also some people that aren’t trained singers!

Cat and Mouse are the first duo on the show, how much harder is it when you’ve got two voices?
It’s funny because you’d think, “Oh. Well, there’s two of them. If they’re a duo, then it’s easier to guess”. But I’ve been looking at them thinking, “You’re not a couple,” but then they might be acting like they are a couple.

Have any of the performances made you cry?
Absolutely!! Jellyfish is an extraordinary performer and has made us all feel pretty emotional. Rhino, as well, has been particularly emotive. There are people who completely draw you in. It’s lucky for Rhino, actually, that they can pull some emotion out of the bag, because it’s very, very hard in that costume to give us anything at all. They are massive, and they are quite humble. They keep putting their little hooves together, it looks so sweet. If it’s possible to have a sweet rhino, this is it.

What are you looking out for to try and guess their identity?
I am on high alerts during this show, so I always see everything as a clue. I’m looking at them when they walk out. I’m looking at them while they’re standing. That’s why when a character is in character it’s so good because you think, “Oh, you are in character all the time and I’m never going to get to see the real you at all.” It’s been really surreal.

Who’s been the naughtiest on the panel this year?
Well, Jonathan’s always the naughtiest. Rita has been hilarious this series, and it’s been so nice to have Mo back as well. So, it’s just been nice to all get back together. Mo said, “It’s like being with an old gang of friends that you don’t see very often.” We might all message each other. But Rita’s all over the world, Mo’s all over the world. So when we all get back together it’s like, “Oh, my God. How have you been? What’s been going on?” It’s so nice.

Who’s got the best wardrobe on the panel this year?
Jonathan, without a doubt. Jonathan just brings all his clothes from home. We had a decades theme which was really nice. His costume was epic. It was all his own clothes. He’s amazing. He gives the characters a run for their money! He really does stand out. I love his sense of style. I love it.

Jonathan reckons he’s got the best setup backstage in his dressing room. Are any of you trying to rival him this year?
I’ve got a photograph in a frame that I was just given for my birthday, which I’ve left in my dressing room because I really love it. It’s of my glam squad. So it’s my stylist, my makeup artist, and my hair stylist, who also happens to be my boyfriend. So I’ve got that in my dressing room, and that’s it. I bring nothing. I’m like in and out. But Jonathan’s dressing room is something to behold. I’m telling you, it’s worth an article all of its own. He brings comic racks, he brings his own sound system, he brings tons of vinyl, he brings a chair. He’s unbelievable!

The Masked Singer, Saturdays at 6.30pm on ITV.