John Thomson was unveiled as Bush Baby on The Masked Singer on the last series of the show but the Cold Feet actor is claimed to have had some struggles during the competition. The show was initially launched in South Korea in 2015 and has become a global hit with more than 40 iterations around the world.
Speaking in a new interview, costume designer for The Masked Singer and The Masked Dancer, Tim Simpson, dished on the celebrities wearing his designs on the ITV show.
Putting together the ensembles from his Brighton-based company called Plunge Creations, the creator admitted his inspiration for Blob and Sausage came after “a glass of wine and a quiet evening”.
Tim revealed that Cold Feet star John struggled with his costume as he found it incredibly hot.
“He nearly cried,” recalled Tim. “He described himself as a man who sweats on a cold winter’s day, and we then stuck him inside the most furry, insulated costume in the entire series.”
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“In order to get him through the show, we had to put ice packs on his shoulders, his chest, his thighs, and one on his head,” Tim added to Radio Times.
“And then we’d also cut huge holes out of the ears to put more ventilation in.”
Earlier this year, Cold Feet favourite John had unveiled himself as Bush Baby before the doting crowd on the Masked Singer.
Following previously unmasked contestants Martine McCutcheon, Mel B, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Glenn Hoddle, it was time for a fifth famous face to exit the stage.
Speaking to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning, the actor explained that his daughters know him very well.
“My daughters Olivia and Sophia were on to it very early because they pick up my little mannerisms – it’s the tiny stuff they recognised,” John remarked.
“Some of the clues as well. I said never work with children and animals and I’ve done both – and I’ve said that and Olivia remembered it.”
“I was a children’s entertainer in Corrie with a parrot.”
They then played a video of his two daughters watching John’s unmasking – which he posted to Instagram – and it was very sweet.
He explained: “It was a different kind of a surprise because you can hear them say ‘I knew it, I knew it, I knew it’, but they were badgering me.
“But it was great because the weeks before when we watched the show together and I’m just sat there knowing it’s me, next to them, that was the great thing.”
Meanwhile, comedian Mo Gilligan, TV presenter Davina McCall, telly personality Jonathan Ross and Strictly professional dancer Oti Mabuse will return to ITV this week for The Masked Dancer.
You can read the full interview in this week’s Radio Times out now.