Nicola Roberts, 34, told how she “ran off stage” after panicking during a performance on The Masked Singer. The Girls Aloud star, who was recently unveiled as being Queen Bee on the hit ITV show, revealed she was “choking” underneath the heat of the costume.
The singer revealed she was forced to dash off the stage because all the components of the costume, including a balaclava, gloves up to her arms and a lack of ventilation in the mask made it impossible for her to breathe.
She told the Sun: “It was absolutely boiling in the studio, there was no air or ventilation in the mask, so you’re breathing in the air that you’re breathing out.
“I was gasping throughout the song. I felt like I was a ball of fire.I got half way through and I was choking on my own breath and I just ran off stage. I could see everyone panicking backstage.”
The songstress told how she worked with the production team to make the holes bigger in the balaclava and took off the under-layers and gloves in a bid to reduce the heat of the costume.
READ MORE: Nicola Roberts: The Masked Singer teases Girls Aloud reunion ‘I would love to’
The show was set on ensuring the contestants’ identities weren’t revealed ahead of time.
Nicola told how she and her manager were told to put on a hoodie, a balaclava, gloves and a visor as soon as they got into the car.
She was also isolated in her dressing room whilst filming, with producers going so far as to making sure contestants didn’t cross in the corridor.
Nicola revealed that despite the legwork required to wear the costume, her favourite part was “having zero inhibitions” because she didn’t have to stress about hair or makeup.
“Of course, they were the only ones who could recognise my voice, as we were in each other’s pockets for so long.”
Ahead of the big reveal, Nicola invited all her friends round but didn’t divulge details of why they were there.
When she was officially revealed as Queen Bee, the singer said Cheryl and Kimberley both “burst out crying” because they were “so proud” to see her on the show.
Even though she is close to the girl group, Nicola said it was “refreshing” for her to be able to branch out and sing ballads from superstars including Lewis Capaldi and Alicia Keys.
