1. How many people in the Netherlands know who is in those suits?
“Only a handful. The singing and movement coaches of the candidates, people from the editorial team and the production of the program, two people from RTL and me. (Heleen van Lindonk works for production company Blue Circle, ed.) But the cameramen know it. for example not and the director of the show neither. “
2. How do you ensure that it remains secret who is participating?
“You know what’s fun: we just name the characters. So we’re talking about the Skeleton, the King, and that stays. I could call the people who have already guessed by their names, but I’ve got it. still about the Chameleon and the Butterfly. It is like this in our system and that is essential in order not to accidentally betray it. “
“The many rehearsals do the candidates in black jogging suits, with black socks, shoes and gloves. There is a balaclava over their heads and a black welding helmet over it. That is a bit less heavy and warm than those suits. On their sweater is the text” I am not allowed to speak ‘because of course they are not allowed to let their talking voice be heard.’
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3. Do participants have to sign a non-disclosure agreement? How high is the fine if they do not comply?
“They do have to sign something. I’m not going to tell you how high that fine is, but it’s not just two bucks. I also had to sign something, everyone who knows something has to do that. That’s to keep it really a secret and the emphasis. to explain the importance of it. “
4. Can the candidates say it to one person?
“Yes, they have been allowed to confide in someone. Sometimes there are two, the manager and the partner for example. At Mariska Bauer, only her manager knew. For us it is useful that their managers know, because they have the agenda of the We know candidates. Because we have to make a lot of agreements, to fit a suit or for singing lessons, for example.
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5. How do they come to the studio anonymously?
“I can’t say too much about that, but they never come on their own. They are picked up in blinded cars at an agreed place. They also drive into the studio. The singing lessons, the discussion of the songs and the movement lessons are on secret. locations, the candidates will come to them themselves. I must say that everyone likes this. The mysterious is part of the game. “
6. Who helps them get dressed?
“There are two people who help with getting dressed. You don’t have to put on the suits just like that, it varies from fifteen minutes to as much as forty minutes. All schedules are adjusted to that. That has to be tight because the candidates cannot pack for too long because it soon becomes too hot and too heavy. I hear that the suit of the Chameleon, from Samantha, consists of fifteen parts that have to be put on in the right order. Really an operation. “
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7. Do the other participants know who is participating?
“Yes, they know who the others are. That is also part of the game. You do it together, it brings together a lot.”
8. How does the selection of candidates take place? Only on vocal qualities?
“No, because Churandy Martina had never sung. We want young and old participants, men and women, there is something for everyone. My mother was pleasantly surprised that Willeke Alberti came from under it and my daughter thought it was nice that Famke Louise in a suit. “
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9. Do the candidates have something to say about which suit they will receive?
“We started coming up with the suits in January. What are nice characters? We are going to develop and develop them. If you look closely, you can see that they all have a different color. There are suits in which you can contour the body. Whether someone is tall, short, man, woman, slim or fuller. As soon as we have all the candidates ready, we start thinking about who fits in which suit. That is in consultation, but they cannot say: I find this one Not nice, can I have someone else? Everyone was very happy afterwards and would not have wanted another suit. “
10. Was there a moment when you thought, ok, now everyone knows?
“I had it with the first season at the finale, then Tania Kross was the Robot. She got to do a number of hits with her opera voice in a song. That was just before she was to be revealed. Then I thought: then everyone will hear it. And that was the case. Suddenly that opera voice she hadn’t played for a long time.
“There are now four in the race, all four of which will be revealed tonight at 8 p.m. on RTL4. I can tell you that it will still be very spectacular. I am now also glad that it was revealed then and I have it. after almost a year no longer have to keep it a secret. “
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