THE Masked Dancer star Gareth Malone dished on behind the scene secrets after being unmasked on Saturday night.
The choir master spoke to The Sun about his experience on the wacky ITV show after being unveiled as Mexican wrestler Cactus.
Gareth, 46, recounted his very first audition to what it was like performing in disguise in front of the celebrity judges Oti Mabuse, Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and newcomer Peter Crouch.
He said he had to prove he had rhythm first before he won a spot in the guessing game show and then was legally sworn to secrecy to keep his involvment under wraps.
He said: "When I got the call I thought 'oh that is such a good idea.'
"I know nothing about dance. I was quite excited by the prospect of doing something completely random and learning to dance and the choreography I relished.
READ MORE ON MASKED DANCER
The Masked Dancer’s Peter Crouch shows off dance moves in show opener tomorrow
The Masked Dancer viewers convinced they know famous faces behind Pillar and Post
"I had an audition, you know 'what's he like, can he move' and that went well …and you sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement). I was so petrified of getting it wrong because you sign your life away.
"You go off to your secret dance studio in a secret location in a secret car, and with a secret hat on. But even within the buiding if I wanted to go to the toilet I'd have to put my whole (disguise) on.
"But it was very conspiratorial, I really enjoyed."
Gareth said they went to great lengths to keep his identity from being leaked.
Most read in TV
X Factor star reveals girlfriend is pregnant with FOURTH child
Huge star signs for I'm A Celeb All Stars leaving famous wife home with kids
Loose Women's Janet shocks ITV co-stars with queue 'dig' at Holly and Phillip
Strictly's Richie Anderson breaks silence on Gio 'feud' amid 'tension' backstage
He added: "I had a code name. I can tell you now because it won’t matter. So my code name was squirrel because that is like my spirit animal.
"I had Whatsapp groups with pictures of squirrels, that sort of thing. They don’t talk to you without using your code name. On email I was even known as squirrel."
Thedad of two also revealed celebs are boiling inside their heavy outfits, which include a hidden cycle helmet underneath the face of the character.
He said: "You weare this like cycle helmet underneath and then on the outside is the character and mid dance it can (wobble). It's just so hot."
Finally the stars are given in-ear monitors to listen to instruction from stage producers.
Read More on The Sun
People are only just realising they’ve been using bubble wands wrong
Kate Middleton swears by a £6 product to stop her shoes from slipping
He added: "You have in-ears, so you have in-ears inside (the helmet) because you have to hear what’s going on, like one, two, three, four, go!"
Gareth was the fourth star to be eliminated from this year's series of The Masked Dancer.
Gareth Malone will tour the UK later this year with his show Sing-Along-A-Gareth!
Source: Read Full Article
