Michael Owen has said The Masked Singer is about ‘entertainment’ when asked how he managed to last longer than professional singers Heather Small and Will Young.
The former footballer, 42, was one of the latest celebrities to leave the competition in Sunday’s episode along with actress Jaime Winstone, 36, when he was unmasked as Doughnuts.
Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of Lorraine, Michael said: ‘That just shows you, it’s not necessarily just a singing contest, it’s about entertainment.
Interview: Michael Owen has said The Masked Singer is about ‘entertainment’ when asked how he managed to last longer than professional singers Heather Small and Will Young
‘I thought to myself right at the start, “I’ve got to have the worst voice that’s ever been on this show, how am I going to get through?”
‘Because my competitive instincts still want to get me through, as soon as I hit that stage, I’ve got to get through. So I thought, “I’ve just got to go for it. Forget it, just laugh at yourself and just do it!”‘
When asked by Lorraine how he found the show, Michael said, ‘Petrifying! Just watching that little montage, I can’t stop smiling.
‘It was so much fun, but I can tell you there was no smiling on my face as I was about to walk out on stage. It was petrifying.’
Unmasked: The former footballer, 42, was one of the latest celebrities to leave the competition in Sunday’s episode along with actress Jaime Winstone, 36
Michael said: ‘That just shows you, it’s not necessarily just a singing contest, it’s about entertainment’ (Will Young pictured being unmasked)
There she is! Michael also managed to outlast M People star Heather Small
The former England star was also asked what the fan reaction to his appearance has been like.
Michael said: ‘Lorraine, it’s been amazing. I’m in a line of work, football, and there’s rivalry. You put a little message out there and you get 50 per cent abuse and 50 per cent of praise.
‘But this, I can honestly say, I’ve looked at every single reply since I’ve done this because there’s not been one negative one, so that has been refreshing.
‘Because social media, we know, can be quite a horrible place sometimes, but it has been so pleasant to read in the last week or so.’
Michael told Lorraine Kelly: ‘I thought to myself right at the start, “I’ve got to have the worst voice that’s ever been on this show, how am I going to get through?”‘
Goallllll: Michael played in major tournaments and cup finals including the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and Football League Cup (pictured in 2001)
Michael also revealed that the celebrity contestants are given a choice over their costume and song choices.
He said: ‘I was presented right at the start with, “This is what we’d like you to wear, but if you don’t like it we’ll change something else.”
‘But I looked at it at once and thought, ‘Well, whenever I make a mistake at home, all the kids say “Dad, you doughnut”, so it suits me anyway.
‘As soon as I saw it, I loved it, and it was a brilliant outfit to wear because I could move in it, do those doughnut hip rolls and things like that.
He added: I’ve got to get through. So I thought, “I’ve just got to go for it. Forget it, just laugh at yourself and just do it!”‘
He added: ‘I think they tailor the songs. They put them in front of you again and they ask you to sing and do a couple of singing lessons, see if you can do it okay.
‘But I think they picked a few good types for me, real crowd pleasers. I think that’s what I was, what the character was, a real crowd-pleaser type of character. I think that’s what got me through.’
Lorraine also joked that Michael looks “about 12” and asked how he looks so youthful, to which he replied: ‘I don’t know, dressing up as a doughnut and running around the stage looking stupid, that’s all I’ve been doing.
‘No, nothing. I’m trying my best to keep weight off and not eating too many of those [doughnuts]!’
Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV and ITV Hub.
Costume: Michael also revealed that the celebrity contestants are given a choice over their costume and song choices