A Masked Singer judge has opened up about their life before fame and shared how their journey to stardom left them in debt with credit card companies and money lenders. Comedian Mo Gilligan revealed that, years before joining the star-studded series and famous panel, the pressures of being a comic early in his career and of looking the part spiralled into a financial nightmare. The ITV star, who is known for his hilarious quips, currently sits on the Masked Singer judging panel alongside Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Maya Jama in an effort to find out which anonymous celebrity is performing under a mask. 

While his rise to fame also included a two BAFTA-winning Channel 4 talk show, three Netflix comedy specials, and an international tour, the star admitted: "It got to a place where, I've got to sell those nice trainers that I've always liked to make some money and pay back whoever I need to pay back or I need to get to this gig." Speaking on the costs of comedy, Mo added: "Also, you have to dress down as a comic. I was also told, 'No, no, no. Don't, don't dress up, you can't be too flashy'. But then ... it was like, 'no, you kind of have to be a bit flashy because you can't be raggedy'".

During an appearance on Elizabeth Day's How To Fail podcast, Mo detailed: "It got bad in terms of once I got the credit card, I didn't really understand the credit card, and plus I got a credit card, which was kind of aimed at someone like me.

"The interest was something stupid. It was ridiculous, 250% APR or something like that. And, at the time, you're like, that's minor, man. It's only until the year it kicks in.

"Then I'd borrow money from a moneylender, which was super easy to do because again, it's aimed at someone who doesn't have money. And then I'd borrow money from another lender to then pay back the money, and then when I'd get money from a gig or a show, then I'd have to pay that money back out plus interest."

While the comedian remarked that it wasn't "crippling debt," he was "definitely playing catch-up where I really need this show to come through."

During the podcast, the 37-year-old also recalled missing out on £300 after a gig was cancelled due to a snowstorm, when he owed a lender £300.

Mo noted: "I never got into masses of debt, like £10,000 worth of debt," and added that his interest in collectable and designer street wear fashion was a saving grace whenever he got into financial difficulty.

He confessed: "So it got to a place where it was just like, 'I've got to sell those nice trainers that I've always liked to make some money and pay back whoever I need to pay back' or 'I need to get to this gig and I don't have the money, so let me sell this really nice coat that I got,' because I can get the money back."