'She was DMing me!' Natalie Imbruglia details close friendship with Masked Singer judge Davina McCall - after fans branded star's victory a 'fix'

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Natalie Imbruglia has detailed her close relationship with The Masked Singer judge Davina McCall - days after fans of the show branded the final result a 'fix.' 

Natalie's Panda triumphed over Charlotte Church and Mark Feehily on Saturday's show - and spoke about her years-long friendship with Davina, 54, who had DM'ed her after the final result.

Torn hitmaker Natalie, 47, told The Sun: 'Davina was DMing me going, 'Oh my god, I can't believe that.'

Winner: Natalie Imbruglia has detailed her close relationship with The Masked Singer judge Davina McCall - days after fans of the show branded the final result a 'fix'

'And we're having this back-and-forth chat. She said, 'I don't think it's sunk into you that you've just won an eight week competition', and it's true, I wasn't expecting to win. 

A Masked Singer spokesman told Mailonline: 'We strongly refute any suggestions that the Masked Singer results were in anyway fixed. This is simply not true. The winner of The Masked Singer is decided by the studio audience.' 

Fans of the ITV competition were quick to take to social media, where they branded the result a 'fix,' insisting that operatic singer Charlotte should have taken the crown.    

'Masked Singer what a bl**dy fix!! Can't believe that Mushroom didn't win? Who is seriously voting? #MaskedSingerUK,' asked another. 

Judge: Natalie's Panda triumphed over Charlotte Church and Mark Feehily on Saturday's show - and spoke about her years-long friendship with Davina, 54, who had DM'ed her after the final result (Davina pictured left on the show alongside 2021 champion, Joss Stone)

Same circles: Davina and Natalie are pictured during 2006 London Fashion Week

This comes as Natalie revealed she is 'ready to play the fame game again' after winning The Masked Singer.

The star said she 'just doesn't care anymore' and added: 'It's good to be in a place where you can do a show like this and embrace the fun of it and not take yourself so seriously.'

Speaking to The Sun of her decision to take part in The Masked Singer as Panda, Natalie explained: 'I was feeling in a really good place and I'm a mum. I think the idea of dressing up in a costume is more appealing when you're a mum.'

Back in the public eye: This comes as Natalie revealed she is 'ready to play the fame game again' after winning The Masked Singer

She added: 'I've changed, so that was probably a big motivating factor. Back then you were worried what people would think, and I just don't care any more. I think that's age and wisdom, isn't it?'

Natalie shot to fame as a teenager when she joined the cast of Neighbours aged just 17.

In 1997, her song Torn sold more than four million copies worldwide, however the record label rejections that followed saw Natalie disappear from the public eye in 2009.

The popstar noted that thanks to The Masked Singer, she has 'found her confidence again'.

It comes after Natalie confessed she was 'terrified' her son Max was going to break her cover as The Masked Singer's Panda, as it was one of the first words he learnt.

The singer, who was crowned the winner of the ITV reality show in Saturday's episode, revealed she told the two-year-old, 'Mummy's a panda,' before realising he would soon be able to speak.

She joked about having to 'keep him locked in the house' when her little one started blabbing about his mum's secret role while out in public.

She told MailOnline and other press: 'He's two. He can't talk. I didn't realise he was gonna be able to go, ''Mummy, Dadda''.'

Teenage star: Natalie shot to fame as a teenager when she joined the cast of Neighbours aged just 17

'When the show started, he didn't even say mummy. I was at home saying, ''Mummy's a panda''.'

'We went to a show in Australia and he starts talking so we flew back and suddenly he's able to point to a panda and say mummy. He wasn't saying it before we started the show.

'I was terrified. I thought, ''I'm gonna have to keep my child locked in a house until the show ends.'' It's not like you run into any pandas on the street so it was okay.'

Difficulties: In 1997, her song Torn sold more than four million copies worldwide, however the record label rejections that followed saw Natalie disappear from the public eye in 2009 (pictured in 1998)

The Torn songstress detailed the adorable moment the tot - who she welcomed via a sperm donor - witnessed her highly-anticipated unmasking.

She said: 'He was pointing to the telly saying, ''Mummy, mummy,'' and it was really cute when he saw it was me.'

Natalie went on to exclusively tell MailOnline that would never have taken on the role as Panda on the show before becoming a mum, which motivated her to stay in-character.

She said: '100 percent, I don't think I would even wanted to be a panda if I wasn't a mum. Everything changes when you become a mum and your focus shifts.

'I just thought, ''How cool that he's gonna see this panda and then the head comes off and it's his mum.'''

Natalie revealed she was pregnant in July 2019, after undergoing IVF. She has not publicly disclosed the identity of her child's father.

Natalie was crowned the winner of The Masked Singer, beating Charlotte Church, 35, who was unmasked as Mushroom in second place and Westlife star Mark Feehily, 41, who was revealed to be Robobunny in third place.

Oh no! The singer  revealed she told the two-year-old, 'Mummy's a panda,' before realising he would soon be able to speak