American singer Marcella Detroit has revealed an unexpected motivation behind her recent appearance on ITV's The Masked Singer: a potential permanent move to the United Kingdom with her British husband.
Behind the Gargoyle Mask: A Secret Plan
The 73-year-old star, best known for the 1992 number one hit 'Stay' with Shakespeare’s Sister, was the fourth celebrity unmasked in the current series, revealed to be the Gargoyle. Detroit explained that the offer to appear on the show arrived at a perfect time, as she and her husband, guitarist Lance Aston, were seriously considering relocating from the United States.
"My husband has been wonderful in that he has come to live with me in America for a few decades, but he was missing his homeland," Detroit said. She added that after the pandemic, the couple's desire to return to England intensified. The opportunity to film the show provided a covert chance to explore the possibility of living in the UK full-time.
Joining a Celebrity Exodus
Detroit placed herself among a notable group of American celebrities reportedly looking to leave during Donald Trump's presidency. She named figures like Ellen DeGeneres, Jay Z, and Beyoncé as others who have expressed a desire to quit Trump's America in favour of British shores.
The singer admitted the secrecy surrounding her participation was so strict that not even their 34-year-old son, Maxwell, knew they were in the country. "None of our really close friends know we are in another country right now. They’ll probably be mad like ‘why didn’t you tell us?’" she laughed.
The Challenge of the Costume and a Career Highlight
Despite being "very sad to go" after losing a sing-off against Sloth, Detroit described the experience as a career highlight, ranking alongside opening for David Bowie and collaborating with Eric Clapton. She did, however, underestimate the practicalities of her chosen Gargoyle costume.
"It takes like two people to help me," she explained, detailing the complicated process of fitting into the outfit, which included navigating shoes at the bottom. "The way it’s constructed, it’s hard to get your feet inside... there’s some crocs you have to fit into, then there’s a strap."
Marcella Detroit follows Alex Jones as Disc Jockey, Professor Green as Teabag, and John Lydon as Yak in exiting the competition. The Masked Singer returns next Saturday at 7pm on ITV and ITVX.
