{"id":352501,"date":"2026-01-04T23:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T23:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/352501\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T23:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T23:58:10","slug":"itv-the-masked-singer-viewers-rumble-monkey-business-as-spice-girls-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/352501\/","title":{"rendered":"ITV The Masked Singer viewers ‘rumble’ Monkey Business as Spice Girls star"},"content":{"rendered":"

Masked Singer fans are sure they have worked out who Monkey Business after the mystery celebrity performed for the first time on ITV’s hit singing competition on Sunday\"TheMonkey Business made their debut on Sunday night’s edition of The Masked Singer(Image: ITV\/Kieron McCarron\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

The Masked Singer<\/a> has only just returned to screens this weekend for its seventh series – but fans are sure that they have worked out who one of the stars is. The hit ITV singing competition<\/a>, in which celebrities go to great lengths to disguise their identities whilst belting out pop songs, has become the nation’s favourite guessing game over the last five years, and viewers have shown no sign of stopping with their theories.<\/p>\n

New characters Arctic Fox, Conkers, Monkey Business Teabag, Toastie and Yak<\/a> were all preparing to take to the stage on Sunday evening, and Monkey Business arrived to perform Maneater by Hall & Oates, but not before giving a series telling clues to tease their true identity, one of which was the theme music to The Apprentice, and gave the overall impression that they “meant business.”<\/p>\n

Following the performance, judges Davina McCall<\/a>, Jonathan Ross<\/a>, Maya Jama<\/a> and Mo Gilligan<\/a> were split as to who the mystery star might be. Maya claimed it could be Girls Aloud<\/a> star Cheryl Tweedy<\/a>, whilst Jonathan said the “confusing” performance could have been by IT Crowd actress Katherine Parkinson, Davina suggested Sara Davies, who is known for her role on Dragon’s Den, was behind the mask, and Mo was confident that it could be Baroness Karren Brady.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Masked Singer fans predict Moth is huge pop star from iconic 90s girl band<\/a>READ MORE: Joel Dommett ‘petrified’ as he and wife Hannah brace for huge family update<\/a>\"JoelThe secret star was greeted by host Joel Dommett after the performance and was met with huge applause from the studio audience (Image: ITV)<\/p>\n

Fans at home were quick to have their say, with many theorising that it was Emma Bunton<\/a>, who shot to fame alongside Lady Victoria Beckham<\/a>, Geri Halliwell<\/a>, Melanie C <\/a>and Melanie Brown MBE<\/a> in the legendary girl group the Spice Girls<\/a>. After being put together as a manufactured group known as Touch, the girls broke away from their initial management company and went on to become the best-selling girl group in history with tracks like Wannabe, Spice Up Your Life and Viva Forever.<\/p>\n

One viewer wrote on X: “Monkey Business is either Avril Lavigne or Emma Bunton,” whilst another said: “Monkey Business – Emma Bunton” and a third added: “I think Monkey Business is Emma Bunton?.<\/p>\n

In the first episode, The One Show star Alex Jones<\/a> was unmasked as Disc Jockey following her performance of Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club. Mo guessed that it was radio legend Annie Mac, whilst Davina<\/a> thought it might be Lioness Jill Scott<\/a>, guest judge Anne-Marie was not present for the performance but guessed that it was “that bird on the cake show,”, meaning Dame Mary Berry<\/a>. Jonathan guessed it was BBC<\/a> Radio 2 star Sara Cox, and Maya Jama<\/a> guessed Total Eclipse of the Heart songstress Bonnie Tyler, but evidently, all were incorrect.<\/p>\n

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.”<\/p>\n

\"SpiceEmma Bunton shot to fame as Baby Spice in the 1990s(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The former Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s the take home for them. I won\u2019t be able to bear it but they will be so excited, hopefully it will be something special they remember when they grow up. They\u2019ll think \u2018God, our mother, do you remember when she dressed as a disc jockey and she sang on national television without any sort of voice?\u2019”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>, Jay-Z<\/a> and NSYNC.<\/p>\n

The Masked Singer, ITV1\/ITVX, Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th January, 6.30pm<\/p>\n

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