Sandra Sully reveals how she broke down with anxiety on The Masked Singer Australia

TV legend Sandra Sully has revealed how she broke down, and how her husband helped her to overcome her fears.

Crippled with anxiety and regretting saying yes to The Masked Singer, 10 News presenter Sandra Sully started devising ways to get out of the reality show.

“I literally broke down in tears after a singing lesson, thinking ‘what have I done?’,” Sully shared after her big reveal on the Ten show.

She went down an absolute rabbit hole of how to extricate herself, saying on repeat to her husband Symon Brewis-Weston: “What have I done? I can’t do it, I can’t do it – what am I going to do?’,”

It took a stern talking to from Brewis-Weston, who persuaded her to do the show in the first place after years of knocking back overtures from producers, to get her out of her head.

“He just said ‘Stop it. You’re talking yourself down a negative hole. Remind yourself why you said yes. Just have a bit of fun. No one’s going to die, including you’.

“And then I was like ‘Of course this is stupid’ and I had to say to myself ‘stop being pathetic’.”

10 News long-time presenter Sandra Sully was the surprising reveal as The Fawn on The Masked Singer, Picture: Ten

She’s all smiles on the red carpet at this year’s Logies, but there were tears for Sandra Sully ahead of her reality TV debut. Picture: Damian Shaw

Despite her admirable attempt at The Pussycat Dolls Don’t Cha, Sully wasn’t able to top Tiny’s rendition of Katrina and the Waves’ Walking on Sunshine on Monday night’s episode.

It had been heavily promoted and touted as the most surprising reveal ever, and for once the fanfare wasn’t all hyperbole, with panellists Mel B, Abbie Chatfield, Dave Hughes and Chrissie Swan absolutely shocked that the veteran presenter was behind the Tim Chappel-designed Fawn costume.

It’s not just the first time viewers have heard her sing in her more than 30-years presenting the news. It’s also the first time her husband and friends have experienced her singing. Sully doesn’t even sing the shower. The closest she came to music was as a drummer in her primary school band.

“I don’t sing along in the car – I probably can now because I’ve shown Australia I can’t sing.

“So we can all laugh out loud with as I also laugh out loud at myself.”

Sandra Sully and with husband Symon Brewis-Weston who had to talk her down from her anxiety. Picture: Supplied

Legendary Ten presenter Sandra Sully in her comfort zone at the newsdesk. Picture: Britta Campion / The Australian

Sully is absolutely relieved she’s one and done. On top of her anxiety, and the stories she had to tell to avoid being outed as one of the contestants – she’s also completely claustrophobic. While she adored the gorgeous Fawn costume, she struggled once the heavy mask was on.

“Your whole head is ensconced like in a balaclava and then you have to put this mask on and it’s done up under your chin, and then tightened like a bike helmet underneath it so it all fits your head,” Sully shared.

“You do have to confront a whole range of demons that you might have. It’s not just performing and singing.”

Sully’s also ready to continue to challenging herself outside of her comfort zone, but that won’t include appearing on Ten stablemate I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here. Despite repeated requests, Sully’s adamant that answer will remain a firm no.

“No, no, no – I’m so claustrophobic, like I said," she said.

“I’m not getting into caves with snakes. I have a visceral fear of snakes. Yeah. And I can’t get into super confined spaces.

“This was hard enough for me, knowing full well I can’t sing and they were going to kind of help me sound kind of decent.

“Honestly I think I chose the best reality show of all to have a bit of fun.”

The Masked Singer, Monday, 7.30pm, Ten

Originally published as Sandra Sully reveals how she broke down with anxiety on The Masked Singer Australia