The Masked Singer viewers took to social media to brand the ITV show ‘rigged’ after Anton Du Beke and Kate Nash were eliminated in a double unmasking on Saturday night
23:25, 24 Jan 2026Updated 23:25, 24 Jan 2026
The Masked Singer said goodbye to two stars on Saturday night(Image: ITV)
Viewers of The Masked Singer have criticised the ITV competition show, claiming the ‘best singers’ are being knocked out following a double elimination on Saturday night (January 24). As The Masked Singer returned for another instalment, the judges were challenged with working out who was behind the remaining costumes after three previous unveilings.
Judges Maya Jama, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan, and Davina McCall were joined on Saturday night’s episode (January 24) by guest panellist Perrie Edwards, famous for being in girl group Little Mix. This week, Perrie and the fellow judges opted to vote out Arctic Fox after the studio audience automatically sent home Monkey Business with the lowest public vote.
Singer Kate Nash, famous for her track Foundations, was unveiled as the celebrity inside the Monkey Business outfit, while Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke was revealed when the panel voted out Arctic Fox, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Following the double elimination – the first of the series – fans flocked to social media to claim the programme is ‘rigged’ after the ‘best singers’ were sent packing. Over wrote: “Absolutely rigged.” Another said: “This whole thing is rigged. Why would you vote off Monkey Business and then go on to save Red Panda.”
A third said: “What what #maskedsingeruk this is stupid ! ! ? ? Joke best singers eliminated!” Another asked: “Why are all the good performs being unmasked and yet the others just because they are wearing a cute costume they stay?”
Anton Du Beke delivered a stunning performance of Barbara Streisand’s Woman in Love, whilst Kate Nash belted out Georgia Brown’s As Long As He Needs Me.
Anton Du Beke and Kate Nash joined the growing list of unmasked celebrities on this series of The Masked Singer, following revelations including The One Show host Alex Jones, rapper Professor Green, Sex Pistols legend John Lydon, and last week’s unveiling of Shakespears Sister vocalist Marcella Detroit.
Dancer and TV star Anton Du Beke, who is best known as a long-serving judge on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing has been revealed as Arctic Fox on The Masked Singer
20:34, 24 Jan 2026Updated 20:56, 24 Jan 2026
Strictly Come Dancing legend revealed as Arctic Fox on The Masked Singer(Image: ITV)
Strictly Come Dancing legend Anton Du Beke has been revealed as Arctic Fox on The Masked Singer. The TV star, 59, who is best known for appearing as a judge on the BBC Saturday night favourite, had secretly switched over to ITV to take part in the nation’s favourite guessing game.
Speaking to host Joel Dommett immediately after his elimination, he said: “I’ve loved every second of it, it’s been the most wonderful thing so thank you!”
When asked about how he felt about being voted off the programme, he said: “Devastated naturally. Delighted to be able to perform but devastated to have been voted off!”
But Anton, who is married to Hannah Summers and has a set of eight-year-old twins with her, revealed he is just a huge fan of the show and decided to sign up to the programme so his appearance could be a big surprise for his children.
He added: “Well it’s such a lovely show. And it’s been going a while, I wondered why no-one ever asked me before! They have, I just haven’t had the time. It’s a lovely show, wonderfully done, it’s a great show. And the thought of doing this and people trying to guess who you are.
“I’m just a huge fan and I know my children are loving this. I haven’t told them, I’ve been very good. I’ve done very well, I haven’t mentioned it. They said where are you going daddy and I’ve just said I’ve got rehearsal. So I haven’t told them I’m on the show. So when they see the unveiling they are going to be overwhelmed. It’s going to be brilliant!
“I’ve had such fun. It’s been brilliant fun and that’s what I’m going to take away really. I’ve loved working with the vocal coaches. I’ve loved belting out a bit of Shirley Bassey, a bit of Barbra Streisand. Tony Hadley.”
She said: “I was so nervous about it but then I got really nervous about the mask coming off and how it was going to feel singing without the mask. It’s like a little comfort zone, you’re not worrying about anything else when you’re in there. It was a unique experience , it’s going to be hard to give her up.”
One viewer has taken these clues and believes Sam Thompson is hiding under the Sloth mask.
Posting on Reddit, they shared: “I’m sticking with Sam Thompson for now. Not sure if the politic clues are trying to throw us off (If it’s a politician I’m between Alistair Campbell or Andy Burnham).”
Listing the clues that have been given so far, they believe the “handcuffs” is a “specific reference to a viral stunt where Sam was handcuffed to his best friend and podcast co-host, Pete Wicks, for 24 hours”.
They added the jungle clue is a direct reference to when he won I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2023.
The fan went on to suggest the “Guide to Manchester” clue was symbolic of when Sam completed his Match Ball Mission for Soccer Aid, travelling 260 miles from London to Manchester(Old Trafford) on foot and by bike.
Finally, the alarm clock could be a reference to Sam’s early morning schedule as he presents the breakfast slot on Hits Radio.
Other The Masked Singer fans had mixed opinions with one suggesting there were more clues to a snooker star: “Spin Doctors (Putting spin on a cue ball), Century Reps (A century break in snooker), Pot of Wax (Cue wax). I think it’s Steve Davis. His distinctive accent really became noticeable in the sing off.”
Another guessed: “Sloth, I’m not certain of at all. Last week I thought it was Ed Gamble, this week I think it’s Greg James.”
Fans may not have long to wait to find out who is under the Sloth mask as two characters are set to be revealed tonight.
As panellists Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Maya Jama and Mo Gilligan are joined by special guest Perrie Edwards, there will be a double unmasking.
The Masked Singer airs tonight on ITV at 7pm.
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Red Panda had been axed from the first episode of The Masked Singer UK a couple of weeks ago by ITV, but following their return on Saturday night their identity may be revealed
20:03, 17 Jan 2026Updated 20:15, 17 Jan 2026
During their debut performance on The Masked Singer on Saturday night, Red Panda may have let slip their true identity(Image: ITV)
During their debut performance on The Masked Singer on Saturday night, Red Panda may have let slip their true identity.
After 40 people sadly lost their lives in the blaze, ITV decided to cut the performance believing the theme and lyrics may be deemed insensitive. On Saturday Red Panda took to the stage, and fans immediately shared their theories of who it could be.
Many fans were all in agreement that the character could be none other than TV star Simon Farnaby. Clues included being “up to date”, a picture of James Bond’s Roger Moore and bonbon sweets, in four bowls.
There were also hints at working in TV, and going solo, and some hearts. As the performance came to an end, fans guessed Harry Hill was under the mask, before many changed their guess to Simon instead.
One fan said: “I can hear simon farnaby in red panda.” Another said: “Doesn’t Red Panda sound slike the voice Simon Farnaby does in Horrible Histories stuff, like in Stupid Deaths.”
A third fan posted: “Just me hearing Simon Farnaby for Red Panda?” A further fan added: “the singing voice sound like Simon Farnby”
It comes after Yak was revealed as Sex Pistols star John Lyndon in the latest unmasking last weekend. The show’s latest star took fans by surprise – with many failing to guess that it was the rock legend underneath that crooning cow.
“Nope didn’t get that lol #themaskedsinger,” one wrote on X. Another tweeted: “Would never have guessed him…” A third wrote: “Never in my life did I think I’d see Johnny Rotten singing an Olivia Newton-John song.”
The Sex Pistol singer didn’t hold back in his exit interview for the show, saying that it was “hardly” the highlight of his career. When asked whether being on the show would be a career highlight for him, he laughed: “I hardly think so. For me, I hope the fun comes across.
“Rather than going up there and doing sing along and guessing who I am straight away, I thought, show the other side of me. An absolute funstar. I’m the court jester by nature. It’s just the way it is.” As for whether he was sad to go, he said: “Certainly not. I think it’s been a privilege for you to have me.”
A top Trump administration lawyer pressed a federal judge Wednesday to block a newly enacted California law that bans most law enforcement officers in the state from wearing masks, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Tiberius Davis, representing the U.S. Department of Justice, argued at a hearing in Los Angeles that the first-of-its-kind ban on police face coverings could unleash chaos across the country, and potentially land many ICE agents on the wrong side of the law it were allowed to take effect.
“Why couldn’t California say every immigration officer needs to wear pink, so it’s super obvious who they are?” Davis told U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder. “The idea that all 50 states can regulate the conduct and uniforms of officers … flips the Constitution on its head.”
The judge appeared skeptical.
“Why can’t they perform their duties without a mask? They did that until 2025, did they not?” Snyder said. “How in the world do those who don’t mask manage to operate?”
The administration first sued to block the new rules in November, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the No Secret Police Act and its companion provision, the No Vigilantes Act, into law. Together, The laws bar law enforcement officers from wearing masks and compel them to display identification “while conducting law enforcement operations in the Golden State.” Both offenses would be misdemeanors.
Federal officials have vowed to defy the new rules, saying they are unconstitutional and put agents in danger. They have also decried an exception in the law for California state peace officers, arguing the carve out is discriminatory. The California Highway Patrol is among those exempted, while city and county agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, must comply.
“These were clearly and purposefully targeted at the federal government,” Davis told the court Wednesday. “Federal officers face prosecution if they do not comply with California law, but California officers do not.”
The hearing comes at a moment of acute public anger at the agency following the fatal shooting of American protester Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis — rage that has latched on to masks as a symbol of perceived lawlessness and impunity.
“It’s obvious why these laws are in the public interest,” California Department of Justice lawyer Cameron Bell told the court Wednesday. “The state has had to bear the cost of the federal government’s actions. These are very real consequences.”
She pointed to declarations from U.S. citizens who believed they were being abducted by criminals when confronted by masked immigration agents, including incidents where local police were called to respond.
“I later learned that my mother and sister witnessed the incident and reported to the Los Angeles Police Department that I was kidnapped,” Angeleno Andrea Velez said in one such declaration. “Because of my mother’s call, LAPD showed up to the raid.”
The administration argues the anti-mask law would put ICE agents and other federal immigration enforcement officers at risk of doxing and chill the “zealous enforcement of the law.”
“The laws would recklessly endanger the lives of federal agents and their family members and compromise the operational effectiveness of federal law enforcement activities,” the government said in court filings.
A U.S. Border Patrol agent on duty Aug. 14 outside the Japanese American National Museum, where Gov. Gavin Newsom was holding a news conference in downtown Los Angeles.
(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)
Davis also told the court that ICE‘s current tactics were necessary in part because of laws across California and in much of the U.S. that limit police cooperation with ICE and bar immigration enforcement in sensitive locations, such as schools and courts.
California contends its provisions are “modest” and aligned with past practice, and that the government’s evidence showing immigration enforcement would be harmed is thin.
Bell challenged Department of Homeland Security statistics purporting to show an 8,000% increase in death threats against ICE agents and a 1,000% increase in assaults, saying the government has recently changed what qualifies as a “threat” and that agency claims have faced “significant credibility issues” in federal court.
“Blowing a whistle to alert the community, that’s hardly something that increases threats,” Bell said.
On the identification rule, Snyder appeared to agree.
“One might argue that there’s serious harm to the government if agents’ anonymity is preserved,” she said.
The fate of the mask law may hinge on the peace officer exemption.
“Would your discrimination argument go away if the state changed legislation to apply to all officers?” Snyder asked.
“I believe so,” Davis said.
The ban was slated to come into force on Jan. 1, but is on hold while the case makes its way through the courts. If allowed to take effect, California would become the first state in the nation to block ICE agents and other federal law enforcement officers from concealing their identities while on duty.
The Masked Singer UK fans believe they’ve worked out the identity of Gargoyle
The Masked Singer fans ‘unveil’ Gargoyle’s identity and they’re a 90s music icon(Image: ITV)
The seventh season of The Masked Singer UK premiered on ITV on Saturday (January 3), with fans trying to work out the identities behind the first group of characters.
The debut episode saw performances from Sloth, Can of Worms, Gargoyle, Disc Jockey and Moth. At the end of the night, Disc Jockey and Gargoyle found themselves in the bottom two after receiving the least amount of votes from the audience.
The judges – Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan and Maya Jama – chose to save Gargoyle, meaning that Disc Jockey became the first star to be eliminated, with The One Show host Alex Jones soon being unmasked.
Now, several viewers believe they know the famous face behind Gargoyle, with Sheakspears Sister singer Marcella Detroit being named.
“My guess for Gargoyle. Marcella Detroit from Shakespears Sister. The voice fits, as she’s known for her high-pitched vocals,” one person wrote on Reddit.
“She put a photo of Sally Webster face down on a table, and Marcella co-wrote the song Lay Down Sally with Eric Clapton. She also worked on his 1976 album No Reason To Cry (Sally and 1976 being clues).
“She talking about not being pigeon holed, which makes sense for Marcella because she was ‘pigeon holed’ as a backing singer for big stars before joining Siobhan Fahey in Shakespears Sister, with Siobhan even suggesting Marcella change her name to give herself a new lease of life and leave the backing singer life behind.”
The viewer continued: “She said things in the clue package that hinted that she really was American, or from another country, and just visiting the UK. Shakespears Sister’s biggest song Stay was released [on] January 13th 1992 – which is why January 13th was one of the major clues.”
Others seemed to agree with this logic, with someone responding: “Oooh, I think you might be onto something here,” with another adding: “This is a good guess ngl.”
On Saturday night, Gargoyle sang the Scissor Sisters’ 2004 hit Filthy/Gorgeous. The judges shared several guesses, including Chrissie Hynde, Helen Flanagan, Ruby Wax, Frankie Bridge and Mollie King.
The follow-up episode, which aired on Sunday (January 4), saw six new characters take to the stage, with performances from Arctic Fox, Conkers, Toastie, Tea Bag, Yak and Monkey Business.
Yak and Tea Bag received the fewest votes from the audience, with Tea Bag becoming the second character to be eliminated. Rapper Professor Green was soon revealed to be behind the mask.
“[The mask] didn’t make singing any easier, I’ll tell you that much… It was quite fun. It was nice being able to hide behind a mask and just be silly for once and just really, really go for it,” he told host Joel Dommett after his unmasking.
The Masked Singer is available to stream on ITVX
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the newEverything Gossipwebsite
Yak performed for the first time on Sunday night’s episode of The Masked Singer and fans were convinced they knew who it was just moments into their performance
Yak took to the stage for the first time on Sunday night’s edition of The Masked Singer(Image: ITV)
Yak took to the stage for the first time on Sunday night’s edition of The Masked Singer, and their identity has already been “rumbled” by viewers at home. The hit ITV singing competition features celebrities dressing up in extravagant costumes to belt out pop songs whilst judges Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Maya Jama and Mo Gilligan try to work out who they are.
They then followed this up with a rendition of Tom Jones’ classic Sex Bomb. Davina thought it was Busted star Matt Willis, Jonathan suggested it could be Adrian Edmondson, whilst Maya guessed it was Fatboy Sl,im and Mo seemed convinced it was comedian Leigh Francis.
Fans at home were quick to have their say, with many theorising that it was broadcaster and former politician Gyles Brandreth, who regularly debates topics of the day on This Morning alongside regular hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard. One viewer wrote on X: “Yak – possibly Gyles Brandreth??? Literally random guess lol Or someone Scottish??,” whilst another said: “Yak sounds like Gyles Brandreth.” and a third added: “Yak is making me laugh, what is going on hahaha! Is it Gyles Brandreth?.” However, another believed it could be Benidorm star Steve Pemberton.
Upon her unmasking, she told host Joel Dommett and the judges: “I have had a lot of fun. We love this programme, as a family, and I just thought, it would be a lot of fun and that to do it for my children would be wonderful. And it’s the most bizarre experience of my life! Thank you.” Emotionally dedicating her time on the programme, Alex, who is married to Charlie Thomson, said: “Teddy, Kit and Annie, this was for you. I hope that you’ve loved it.”
The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 48, then closed out her time on the competition with an unmasked rendition of Pink Pony Club to massive applause from the studio audience. Following her exit from the show, Alex admitted she wanted her performance to serve as an inspiration to her children.
She said: “I want them to know that overcoming fear is a good thing. I am not a singer but I gave it a go, and I think that’s the take home for them. I won’t be able to bear it but they will be so excited, hopefully it will be something special they remember when they grow up. They’ll think ‘God, our mother, do you remember when she dressed as a disc jockey and she sang on national television without any sort of voice?’”
As well as Gargoyle, other stars still in the competition include Red Panda, Can of Worms, Moth, and Sloth. On Sunday night, Monkey Business, Teabag, Toastie, Yak, Arctic Fox, and Conkers will perform for the first time.
It all came after Anne-Marie had been unmasked as Goldfish, having been performing as the lead singer of a group called No Trout in a first for the programme. After performing as Bruno Mars and Rose hit APT, the judges correctly guessed the identity of the singer.
Following her unmasking, the songstress said: “When I was at school, I had a very short attention span! I’m used to the voice just going that way [in front of me] but in the thing, it was like ‘Oh, that’s what I sound like!” She then gave her first unmasked performance for the studio audience of her signature track 2002, which famously references music icons like Britney Spears, Jay-Z and NSYNC.
A huge pop star was revealed as Goldfish, the lead singer of a group called No Trout, in the launch episode of The Masked Singer as the hit series returned to ITV on Saturday
19:36, 03 Jan 2026Updated 19:38, 03 Jan 2026
Goldfish performed on the first episode of The Masked Singer (Image: ITV)
Anne-Marie was revealed as Goldfish on the launch episode of The Masked Singer. In a first for the programme, the first two episodes will feature a full band, and the panel also had to guess the identity of the lead singer.
After performing as Bruno Marse and Rose hit Apt part of a group called No Trout, the judges correctly guessed the identity of the singer. Following her unmasking, the songstress said: “When I was at school, I had a very short attention span! I’m used to the voice just going that way [in front of me] but in the thing, it was like ‘Oh, that’s what I sound like!” She then gave her first unmasked performance for the studio audience of her signature track 2002.
Fans were thrilled with the star’s appearance, with one writing on X: “Anne-Marie is sooooo good and such a lovely person, that unmasked performance was beautiful!!” But others had guessed it long before the unmasking took place, with one writing: “Knew it was Anne Marie purely by the way she stood” and another said: “Anne Marie was possibly the most obvious unmasking ever. I knew Goldfish was Anne Marie.”
Prior to the revelation, Goldfish asked Davina: “How did it feel to be top of the Christmas tree?” and then asked Jonathan: “They say goldfish have a three-second memory. We’ll be the Judge of that!” Mo received: “54x4x10-166+8=X”, and Maya got a text that says: “I heard you became an award-winning billionaire by swimming upstream!”
The equation, which gives an answer of 2002, was possibly the biggest clue yet. The pop track was released by Anne-Marie in 2018, and references the period of time in which music icons like Britney Spears, Jay-Z and N*Sync ruled the charts. Eager fans who had spotted a preview of the series had already guessed who was behind the mask before it even went to air.
Previously, it was claimed that the new format with the bands was a way of keeping viewers guessing.
The Sun reported that a source said: “As The Masked Singer heads into series seven in the UK, bosses are keeping everyone on their toes by upping the ante on clues and throwing in even more unmaskings. “The franchise’s first-ever bands are going to blow everyone’s minds – but viewers will be left scratching their heads as to whether the band is a big clue or not. “The celebrities hiding inside might run solo in their real lives, or they might be part of some sort of group, or could even be exactly what it says on the tin – an actual frontman or woman.
“Viewers are going to be more bamboozled than ever, but it’s going to be lots of fun.” Viewers can expect to see four unmaskings in the first two episodes. Goldfish and Emperor Penguin are extra celebrities on top of the 12-person lineup.
Last year, the programme was won by West End legend Samantha Barks, who had dressed up as Puffer Fish throughout the series’ run. Samantha, who found fame on the BBC’s I’d Do Anything alongside Coronation Street actress Jodie Prenger and then starred in the film adaptation of Les Misérables with Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne.
Upon her victory, she said: “I feel like I’ve lived this double life because I’ve had these crazy experiences, but nobody in my life knows [about] this, so I’ve loved it!
“I’ve had the best time, I really have. Underneath the mask, it’s been hurting my cheeks because I’ve been smiling so hard! Thank you so much!”
Samantha, who is also known for having played the lead in the West End production of Disney’s Frozen, had fought off competition from celebrities like EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy, singer Macy Gray, and Celebrity Trators star Kate Garraway, amongst a host of others.
Other previous stars to have been brave enough to take part in the fun show include Dionne Warwick, Prue Leith, Daisy May Cooper, Glenn Hoddle, Mel Giedroyc, Sir Lenny Henry and Lorraine Kelly.
