THE MASKED Singer’s Davina McCall conned the Christmas special’s judges by sneaking inside a costume herself.

The panel were left agog when Star was revealed to be one of their own on tonight’s festive show.

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Davina McCall tricked her fellow judges to be unmasked as StarCredit: ITV

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The cheeky character crooned two festive tunes in the specialCredit: ITV

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Judges Mo Gilligan, Jonathan Ross and guest panellists French and Saunders were stunned by the revealCredit: ITV

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Davina underwent brain surgery last month, with the Christmas special filming back in JulyCredit: davinamccall/Instagram
Now Davina, 57, has revealed how she pulled a sickie to fake the big reveal.

Davina said: “I was texting the bosses at eight o’clock, who were obviously in on it, but I had to text them and to tell them I had to miss the recording of the Christmas special.

“They had to text the whole production team and tell them.

“I know this is all going on in the building next door, but there I am sitting in a please Don’t Speak To Me t-shirt with a balaclava on!

“It was just the maddest ruse I have ever done.

“I got the text from the executive producer [asking me to do it] and I literally read the first three words and I’d typed back yes!

“It was one of the greatest experiences of my life so far.”

Davina filmed the special this summer, some months before she discovered a brain tumour during routine health checks.

Last month she underwent surgery to remove the rare but benign lump, and is now in recovery.

But she relished fooling her fellow judges Jonathan Ross and Mo Gilligan and host Joel Dommett, 39, as well as guest panellists Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders after crooning two festive tunes, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and This Christmas

Her expertise forged across five series gave her the edge.

Davina said: “I thought Jonathan was wondering, because he’s just so good at guessing but I’m not sure if Mo knew at all.

“I don’t know if Joel did either, but the way I ran into Joel’s arms every time I went on to stage might have been a bit of a clue.

“But you know what, I couldn’t wear the deodorant that I usually wear, I couldn’t wear any perfume, I couldn’t smell like myself.

“I put on a voice and I was channelling my sister in law who is from Virginia.

“And when anyone asked me if I could sing and I said, ‘absolutely not, I’d never do this show.’”

Davina returns to the panel on the brand new series of The Masked Singer, next Saturday (Jan 4) at 6.30pm on ITV1.

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The new series of The Masked Singer kicks off in January and sees Maya Jama join the panelCredit: ITV