THE Masked Singer is the most madcap show on the telly with its surreal crooning characters and equally bizarre backdrops the things of pure fantasy.
But when you add into the mix a crackers array of famous celebs and larger than life judges you’re guaranteed high drama week in week out.
We take a look at the seriously shocking moments from series’ new and old and even the odd bit of off-screen controversy.
MACY’S TANTRUM
Top of the pile and freshest in the memory is Grammy-winning singer Macy Gray‘s cringe-inducing exit last Saturday.
The I Try singer is a show veteran having appeared on the US and Australian versions previously, and she was clearly expecting to go deep into the competition here in the UK as Toad in the Hole.
But it wasn’t to be and she was eliminated in week two.
Taking the decision in the manner of a toddler deprived of a treat, Macy stormed off the stage leaving bosses scrambling to entice her back for the big reveal.
After what must have felt like an eternity for the audience and crew, she obliged, only to give host Joel Dommett possibly the most awkward interview of his career.
With a look of pure disgust on her face and a smattering of uninterested single-word answers, Macy made sure she will be the series’ most talked about star, despite the early exit.
MACY KICKS OFF (Again)
Perhaps the crazy antics of last week should have been expected if anyone had paid attention to her other Masked appearances.
Macy’s first foray into the whacky world of the show saw her dress as Atlantis for the Australian version.
When the time came for her to emerge from the depths of the outfit in week three, she simply refused.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Masked Singer’s Pufferfish is ‘star of blockbuster movie musical’ claim fans after spotting new clues” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6366965427112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Show judge Dave Hughes (better known as Hughesy) recapped what happened on Australian radio show 2Day FM’s Morning Crew.
He said: “Macy Gray had such passion for The Masked Singer that when she was told that she had to leave the show, which you saw last night, she refused to leave the show.
“She said, ‘No, I’m continuing in the show,’ and there had to be a discussion which went for quite a while as to, ‘No, you have to leave.’ She said, ‘No, I’m not leaving.’”
It appears she learned her lesson, temporarily anyway, as she made the final in the US as the similarly themed Sea Queen and played ball, even hugging host Nick Cannon.
RITA ORA’S BIG BASH
For five years Rita was part of The Masked Singer furniture brining fun and pizzazz to the panel.
But early into her tenure, she made headlines for all the wrong reasons away from the show studio when she celebrated her 30th birthday.
The star allegedly offered a West London restaurant £5k to flaunt lockdown rules and let her party with her nearest and dearest.
It sparked a police investigation and Rita publicly apologised saying: “I am incredibly embarrassed. I still feel embarrassed. It’s really hard for me to talk about it. I just wish I had made a different choice. It makes me sad because it’s something I wish had never happened.”
The debacle saw the local council suspend restaurant Casa Cruz’s licence for six weeks.
COSTUME COCK-UP
There were gasps of shock in 2022 when the character McTerrier literally lost its head on the US version.
Shortly after the character performed Loverboy’s Working for the Weekend they stumbled and their head flew off, leaving them scrambling to cover themselves from the panel members’ eyes.
The tartan-kilted pooch soon had to properly reveal their identity though.
Food Network host Duff Goldman was the man at the heart of the chaos and it seemed like the writing was on the wall after his earlier incident.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD
Another famous face’s head came off prematurely in the US in 2020 – though in very different circumstances.
Hollywood hellraiser Mickey Rourke made sure he left the programme on his own terms, unmasking himself in the very first episode.
One song proved enough for Rourke, who said “I want to take this off right now” during his debut performance.
After going through with his warning, he then sang Stand By Me beside Nick Cannon.
Speaking of his decision, Rourke said he “liked the show” and “was in the neighbourhood”, he declined to do anymore press around the show thereafter.
[boxout headline=”Who won The Masked Singer 2025?” featured-image=”32646117″ intro=”Much to the delight of telly fans, The Masked Singer came back in 2025.”]Twelve celebrities were hidden behind intricate costumes, with their identities concealed.
Pufferfish – This year’s winner had flawless vocals throughout the competition. West End powerhouse Samantha Barks told the audience she’d loved every second of the series.
Dressed Crab – Former American football player turned jazz singer Gregory Porter was the man behind the crustacean. He duetted with Keala Settle, who previously competed as Air Fryer, in the final.
Wolf – Wet Wet Wet heartthrob Marti Pellow was unmasked as the rugged character. McFly’s Danny Jones, who won last year’s show as Piranha, was on the panel in the final and paid his respects to the Scottish crooner.
Bush – she didn’t fool viewers and the judges were so close, but Bush was in fact EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy. Davina McCall came closest, guessing Morgana Robinson, who does a mean impression of the Sonia actress
Bear – another success for new judge Maya Jama as she guessed correctly that the singing Bear was none other than singer, songwriter Example – real name Elliot Gleave.
Snail – this singer certainly fooled the judges as the mask was lifted to reveal Andrea Corr. Jonathan Ross admitted to being a huge fan of The Corrs.
Kingfisher – everyone was convinced this was Harry Hill, but the mask was lifted to reveal artist Sir Grayson Perry, who is known for his alter-ego Claire.
Teeth – this character baffled judges and viewers with their changing voice. They were finally unmasked as former Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc. None of the panel managed to guess it was her.
Tattoo – despite Davina McCall saying “you sound the same” after this character was unmasked, none of the judges guessed it was 80s singer Carol Decker, whose hit China In Your Hand was a No1 hit for five weeks.
Toad In The Hole – a massive diva strop saw the character storm off the stage after the judges voted them off. They later returned to be unmasked as singer Macy Gray.
Pegasus – the mythical horse was revealed to be Prue Leith, with judge Jonathan Ross correctly guessing her identity.
Spag Bol – this character was first to be unmasked and was none other than Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway.
Plus there was one extra unmasking this season, with Giant Joel – a caricature of host Joel Dommett – unveiled as double-double Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah.