PETER ‘Crouchy’ Crouch says ‘The Masked Dancer’ has shown “a different side” of his personality, and ITV viewers are loving the former England player.
The ex-Liverpool FC striker – who has been named a judge on alongside Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Oti Mabuse on the ITV secret star-studded show hosted by Joel Dommett – believes since leaving football behind he is less “guarded”.
The 41-year-old former footballer – who was known for doing ‘the robot’ on the pitch after scoring – told Politicalite: “I think viewers have seen a different side to me.
“With football, I think you’re so guarded in interviews and you’re taught from such a young age to say nothing because you don’t want to be tripped up.
“But now I’ve finished football, I’ve just cared less. I’ve been more like, this is me, I am who I am.
“I think people can see the person I am behind the football.”
Peter labelled the beautiful game his “passion” and has no clue how he has made a name for himself in broadcasting.
He told Politicalite: “Football is my passion and playing for England and things like that… I probably had similar nerves doing this.
“Like the World Cup, but at least I trained for that and knew what I was doing! Here I’m like, ‘How on earth did this happen?’”
The former Tottenham Hotspur player revealed his daughters Sophia,11, and Liberty, seven, – who he has with his model wife Abbey Clancy, 36, who is also mother to their two sons Johnny, four, and Jack, three, – are “desperate” to find out the identities of the celeb contestants – which are revealed after they are eliminated – but he has managed to keep stum.
Peter said: “My girls have been desperate to know so they can tell their mates. But my lips are sealed.”
Earlier this month, the ‘That Peter Crouch Podcast’ host admitted his new judging gig was “more nerve-wracking” than taking a penalty for England.
Peter said: “I trained every single day of my life to play football so being in that position, you know you’ve been in training for it and you’re ready to go.”
The Masked Dancer airs on Saturday nights on ITV.
