HOGGING the limelight!

JOANNA PAGE on taking to the dance floor as Pig

- STEVEN PERKINS

THE MASKED DANCER SATURDAY, 6.30 PM, ITV ENTERTAINMENT

Fans of ITV's entertainment spectacular The Masked Dancer were left stunned at the end of the second episode when dapper Pig was unveiled as Joanna Page.

Gavin & Stacey's leading lady shone in her debut performance as the porcine with an energetic routine to Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves. But she then found herself in the bottom two alongside Pearly King and was asked to trot away from the contest.

Here, Joanna, 45, tells us why she was delighted to trip the light fantastic - and how it feels to be 'snout' of the running...

Why did you decide to sign up for The Masked Dancer?

My kids absolutely love the show [Joanna shares four children with her husband, former Emmerdale star James Thornton]. When we watched it, they said, ‘Mummy, would you do anything like that?’ and I replied, ‘Gosh, no, I would be too nervous!’

So I did it just so I could see their faces when the mask came off!

Also, I absolutely love dancing, and when else in my life would I get to work with choreographers and have so much fun? It’s not even like a job – I got to dress up in a pig costume and dance around on stage!

Was it difficult to keep your involvement a secret?

Really difficult! I had to tell my husband and my mum because they were helping with the childcare, but I didn’t tell anyone else.

I’m used to keeping secrets in this business, but it was difficult with my children. They were saying, ‘Mummy, have you joined a dance troupe?’ because I was dancing all the time!