Martine McCutcheon has announced her return to making music for the first time in five years.
After releasing her last record, Lost and Found, in 2017, which shot up to number 17 on the UK singles chart, Martine, 44, has decided now’s the right time to get her singing skills known to the public once again.
The news comes after the actress showed off her vocals on The Masked Singer last year, when she was unmasked as the Swan character, impressing with her rendition of Black Velvet by Alannah Myles.
Singer at heart: Martine McCutcheon has announced her return to making music for the first time in five years (pictured at the National Music Awards in London in October 2002)
Speaking to The Sun, the former EastEnders actress said that she has joined forces with her songwriter husband Jack McManus, 38.
‘We’ve literally just started writing new material and writing new music,’ she said, ‘I just want to do great songs and we’ll see what they end up being.
I love such a mixture of music and the arts, and I’d just like to reflect that on the album.
‘I definitely want to perform in front of live audiences again. This full on project of the album will probably be taking up a lot of this year.’
Making a return: After releasing her last record, Lost and Found, in 2017, which shot to number 17 on the UK singles chart, Martine, 44, has decided to make a return to the music world
On her shock The Masked Singer performance last year where she surprised fans and judges alike with her vocal talent, Martine said that it was like a ‘military operation’ to keep her identity a secret.
She added that her seven-year-old son Rafferty’s reaction was ‘priceless’ and said she was ‘cool’ in his eyes for doing something he never thought she would.
Talking about her time on the Masked Singer in January last year, Martine said: ‘I just thought it would be so lovely just to come out and have fun!’
To which Davina replied: ‘You look fantastic,’ with Martine adding: ‘That’s lovely, thank you!’
As one of her clues before being unmasked during the show, Swan teased that she had served a Prime Minister and had deals with more than one president of the USA.
Working together: Speaking to The Sun , the former EastEnders actress said that she has joined forces with her songwriter husband Jack McManus, 38 (pictured together in 2015)
After her unveiling, Martine revealed that her statement was in fact a nod at her role as Natalie in Love Actually, where she acts as a secretary to Prime Minister David, played by Hugh Grant, where she also meets with US president (Billy Bob Thornton).
Although the actress revealed that she once had a real run-in with a US president as she sat next to Donald Trump at Liza Minnelli’s wedding in 2002.
She said of her meeting with Trump, 74: ‘Liza Minnelli’s wedding, I was a guest, I got to be her bridesmaid and next to me was Trump. So make of that as you will!’
Prior to her unmasking, judge Jonathan said: ‘President, Prime Minister, is making me think of the film Love Actually. Of course I think that’s Martine McCutcheon ladies and gentlemen!’
And after Martine’s unveiling, Jonathan quipped: ‘I was right for once!’
Here she is! Martine McCutcheon became the latest celebrity to be unmasked on The Masked Singer in January 2021
The comedian also worked out that Swan’s ‘royal connection’ was in fact the name of the pub in EastEnders in a nod at her character Tiffany Mitchell.
Jonathan also said: ‘I do remember you telling me once you were in a girl band. Were they called Memphis?’
To which Martine joked: ‘Milan! We were signed to Polydor when we were 14-years-old. So I felt like a washed up has been by the time I was 18.’
It comes after Martine recently reflected on the ‘ups and downs’ of her marriage to husband Jack McManus,
She told The Sun that they ‘don’t have the perfect relationship by any means’ but that she does ‘confide’ in him when ‘life gets tricky’.
Martine and Jack have been together for 15 years and married 10 years ago. They share son Rafferty, seven, who they renewed their vows in front of last month.
She told The Sun of her relationship: ‘Both Jack and I have always been honest we don’t have the perfect relationship by any means.
‘We’ve had our ups and downs, like everybody. We’ve had our challenges, but I think ultimately we’re each other’s best friend.
‘When life gets tricky and isn’t always as fabulous it’s good you can have somebody you can talk too and confide in and be all of yourself with, and you know that’s a safe space and they’ve got your back.’
It comes two weeks after Martine sadly revealed the passing of her brother LJ who died aged 31 without medical explanation.
Tragic: It comes two weeks after Martine sadly revealed the passing of her brother LJ (pictured together) who died aged 31 without medical explanation
Source: | Dailymail.co.uk