Martin Kemp and his wife Shirlie Holliman have been unmasked as The Masked Singer’s first duo. The Spandau Ballet bassist, 61, and his wife Holliman, 60, both found themselves in the bottom two as Cat & Mouse when they faced off against the masked character Knitting in the sing-off on ITV’s celebrity singing show.
Asked if their son, Capital Breakfast DJ Roman Kemp, knew that they had taken part, Holliman said: “No, this is going to embarrass him. Most people say they are doing it for their kids.” Kemp also said: “We’re doing it to embarrass them.”
Following the reveal, their son wrote on Twitter: “I just shouted the phrase ‘take it off’ to my parents I cant undo that #MaskedSingerUK.” He also wrote “are you ****ing joking” after the reveal.
He then issued another tweet, commenting on his mother's previous opinion about fame.
Martin Kemp, who is also known for his work as an actor in EastEnders, said: “We loved it so much. You literally become possessed when you put the mask on.” Holliman, who performed with Wham! and as part of the duo Pepsi & Shirlie with Helen DeMacque, said: “It is just so off the wall. It’s so much harder to sing in the mask than you imagine it will be. ”
She said there was a clue, a reference to her book with DeMacque called Pepsi & Shirlie – It’s All in Black and White: Wham! Life And Friendship. “I’ve never done anything so nerve racking in my life,” Holliman added.
The celebrity couple also have a daughter, musician Harleymoon Kemp.
The judges guessed that Cat & Mouse could be Danny Dyer and his daughter Dani Dyer, Sarah Michelle Gellar and her Buffy The Vampire Slayer co-star Anthony Head, Britain’s Got Talent’s David Walliams and Amanda Holden and EastEnders’ Adam Woodyatt and Maisie Smith.
The judges include presenter Davina McCall, singer-songwriter Rita Ora, presenter Jonathan Ross and comedian Mo Gilligan. Ora said to Holliman: “Well, you sang beautifully by the way.”
After the reveal, Holliman and Kemp then performed Get Happy, a song popularised by Judy Garland. Host Joel Dommett said: “Honestly you’ve been such a joy.”
Other characters Jellyfish, Otter, Knitting and Phoenix have made it through The Masked Singer’s Time Machine special with songs from the eras.
Next Saturday, Fawn, Jacket Potato, Pigeon, Rhino and Rubbish will be taking to the stage once again.
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