{"id":218389,"date":"2026-01-05T19:58:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T19:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/218389\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T19:58:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T19:58:12","slug":"heres-all-the-best-theories-for-who-the-real-celebrities-are-in-the-masked-singer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/218389\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s all the best theories for who the real celebrities are in The Masked Singer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now all the festive hoo-haa is over, is there any better way to spend January than guessing who a bunch of singing celebrities, in wild fancy dress outfits (like a sentient teabag), really are? The answer is no, there is not. Which is why we’re obviously hooked, as ever, on The Masked Singer. <\/p>\n

Kicking off at the weekend, Joel Dommett introduced us to the motley crew of creatures for this year’s outing, and the speculation began as to who they might all be, hiding beneath those over-sized and presumably very hot plastic heads. So here are the best theories and suggestions so far, as to who the famous people might be under the masks.
<\/p>\n

\"moth,<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Moth
<\/p>\n

After performing Mariah Carey’s Hero incredibly well on Saturday, it’s now given viewers some good ideas as to who it could be, and a lot of signs (well, chatter on social media) point to it perhaps being Keisha Buchanan from Sugababes.
<\/p>\n

One person on X wrote: “Just catching up on #TheMaskedSingerUK and Moth is 1000000% the iconic @keisha_buchanan \u2013 and she\u2019s not even giving it her all yet vocally either. I can see her winning already!\u201d. Another person agreed: \u201cWe see you Keisha Buchanan as Moth, I know that voice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other guesses from the judges included Alexandra Burke (another possible contender) or Jessie J, but no, Davina McCall, we really don’t think it’s ’80s Brat Pack actor Molly Ringwald.
<\/p>\n

\"can<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Can of Worms<\/p>\n

Since crawling onto the stage, possibly the most bizarre Masked Singer costume of all has been an enigma. There was a plate of pastries in their first video \u2013 which suggests someone from breakfast TV, perhaps \u2013 but they also were keen to dial up their outdoor credentials. While gardening, they said: “Here’s my patch” and added: “As a worm, I have green fingers… it runs in the family, like it was written in the stars.” Then there’s that framed photo of James May and Richard Hammond to contend with… <\/p>\n

Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper was the first person to be mentioned by the judges, as was Paul Whitehouse by Mo Gilligan (whose mum was an opera singer, commented Jonathan Ross). <\/p>\n

While online, other names being thrown up are Ben Shepherd, and JLS singer Marvin Humes (as he was green in band promo pics, and May and Hammond initials make MH) and… even Jeremy Clarkson himself.<\/p>\n

On X, one fan said: “Oh hold on\u2026those pastries, if they have ANY link to Bake Off, it may be to do with their companion show An Extra Slice & Tom Allen is one of the hosts of that show, so might be him.”<\/p>\n

\"the<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Conkers<\/p>\n

Singing Myles Smith\u2019s Nice To Meet You as their opening song, Conkers has had people scratching their heads ever since. The clues we’ve been given are that they were filmed near a castle, they said they “up for any challenge” but added they often “hide in their shell”, and rather randomly added that “ghosts don’t scare me”. <\/p>\n

Maya Jama suggested it could be actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe who has starred in Ghosts, while over on X, other guesses included Olly Murs, Mark Owen or Ben Shepherd, again.<\/p>\n

\"artic<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Arctic Fox<\/p>\n

Their first performance was Pink’s Get The Party Started, and the clues we’ve been given so far are them holding a full house of cards, next to a pot of food for hungry bears, and saying: “Be warned. I\u2019ve worn many crowns in my time and I always expect red carpet treatment.” <\/p>\n

They also suggested they were an actor-turned-director: “I spent years perfecting my craft whether in front of a camera or behind the scenes”.<\/p>\n

The crown comment made Jonathan Ross suggest the actual queen Camilla, which would be the casting of the century. More likely, it could be someone to do with the show The Crown, but the main contender at the moment seems to be Strictly legend, Anton Du Beke. <\/p>\n

“Arctic Fox is 100% Anton Du Beke!,” one person wrote on X, while another agreed, due to a giveaway with their voice: “Arctic Fox is Anton Du Beke, 0 attempt to change his voice.”<\/p>\n

\"toastie,<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Toastie<\/p>\n

Toastie has become immediately iconic with their version of Aerosmith’s Walk This Way, and in their video they talked about “not giving up under pressure” as well as the suggestion they’ve faced criticism in the past. There were also hints of a diamond, a crown and the date “August 20”. <\/p>\n

The panel suggested people like singer Rebecca Ferguson, Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie and Emeli Sande. But off-screen, many viewers were saying that they thought it was Brenda Edwards from Loose Women. “If it\u2019s not Brenda Edwards, I\u2019ll eat a toastie,” one person said on X, while another added: “Calling it now, Toastie is Brenda Edwards.” Other ideas punted out were Loose Women co-star Judi Love or Alison Hammond.
<\/p>\n

\"monkey<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Monkey Business<\/p>\n

The Apprentice clues were there, even a little snatch of the famous music played while they were on screen. The other notes that we were given to this creature included that they were a bit of a jet-setter. <\/p>\n

Rivals actor and comedian Katherine Parkinson was suggested by Wossy, while judge Mo thought the Apprentice hints could mean Karren Brady. Fans on X also leaned into the Apprentice ideas, with former contestant Sara Khan or Deborah Meaden being suggested. <\/p>\n

\"yak,<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Yak<\/p>\n

This hairy beast claimed they’re a “yak of all trades”, but there were signs that pointed to TV travel documentaries or shows. One of the clues was the Yak suggesting they go tech-free. <\/p>\n

Judge Mo said that a reference “from dusk til dawn” could be either the ’90s film of the same name, or a 2014 TV series. Meanwhile, judge Davina McCall said that it could be Matt Willis, after he did the documentary with his wife Emma Willis about banning phones in school.<\/p>\n

But Yak’s not so dulcet tones made people think that this wasn’t a natural singer \u2013 maybe it was a comedian like Ade Edmondson, while viewers on X also followed the funnyman suggestions, saying it could be someone like Reece Shearsmith.
<\/p>\n

\"sloth,<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Sloth<\/p>\n

Sloth, ironically, is a very high-energy creature who sang Matthew Wilder’s Break My Stride with a very energetic routine to match. They began their video with them working out on camera, and it could perhaps be an influencer or fitness guru, as they added: “I\u2019m bringing fitness, fashion and fierceness to the competition. I know how to represent in the gym and on the world stage.” <\/p>\n

The Sloth was then seen in the jungle \u2013 which made eagle-eyed judges think that this person might have appeared on I’m A Celebrity. <\/p>\n

Suggestions from the judges included Joe Wicks and Sam Thompson, while viewers thought the I’m A Celeb link might mean Danny Jones from McFly or even classic TV exercise dude, Mr Motivator.<\/p>\n

\"gargoyle,<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Gargoyle <\/p>\n

After performing the Scissor Sisters’ Filthy\/Gorgeous, Gargoyle was revealed to be a bit of a ’90s icon. And while the judges guessed everyone from Ruby Wax to Mollie King, or Helen Flanagan, viewers at home are convinced they’ve worked it out. <\/p>\n

Over on Reddit<\/a>, one fan said: “Marcella Detroit from Shakespeare’s Sister. The voice fits, as she’s known for her high-pitched vocals.” <\/p>\n

They also added: “Shakespears Sister’s biggest song Stay was released January 13th 1992 \u2013 which is why January 13th was one of the major clues.”<\/p>\n

\"the<\/p>\n

ITV<\/p>\n

Who has already been unmasked?
<\/p>\n

We have already had a few people whip those masks off, and so far in The Masked Singer 2026 it’s been revealed that: <\/p>\n

– Disc Jockey is The One Show’s Alex Jones
<\/p>\n

– Teabag is rapper Professor Green<\/p>\n

The Masked Singer continues on Saturday and Sunday nights on ITV1 and ITVX. <\/p>\n

The new edition of Living Legends, celebrating music icon Dolly Parton, is here! Buy <\/a>Dolly at 80<\/a> in newsagents or online<\/a>, priced at just \u00a38.99.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Now all the festive hoo-haa is over, is there any better way to spend January than guessing who…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":218390,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[2115,131804,2117,156,2116,111,139,69,131803,437],"class_list":["post-218389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-content-type-news","tag-contentid-5ba86774-9c98-4e39-a120-1d7699093856","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-entertainment","tag-locale-gb","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-shorttitle-all-the-best-masked-singer-2026-cast-theories","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218389\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/218390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}