The Masked Singer (British TV series) series 7

The Masked Singer
Series 7
Starring
Hosted byJoel Dommett
WinnerKeisha Buchanan as "Moth"
Runner-upBen Shephard as "Conkers"
No. of episodes8
Release
Original networkITV
Original release3 January (2026-01-03) –
14 February 2026 (2026-02-14)
Series chronology

The seventh series of the British version of The Masked Singer premiered on ITV on 3 January 2026, following a Christmas special episode on 26 December 2025, and concluded on 14 February 2026. Joel Dommett returned as the show's presenter, whilst Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Maya Jama and Jonathan Ross returned as panellists. The series is the second in another two-year commissioning by ITV. The series was accompanied by companion show The Masked Singer: Unmasked hosted by Harriet Rose on ITVX. The series was won by singer Keisha Buchanan as "Moth", with television presenter Ben Shephard finishing second as "Conkers", and singer/actress Mica Paris placing third as "Toastie".

Production

The commissioning of the seventh series was announced along with the previous series by ITV in October 2024, as part of a further two-year contract.[1] Filming for the series took place in October 2025 at Bovingdon Studios in Hertfordshire, with the public being invited to apply for tickets to be in the audience.[2][3] The series began airing on 3 January 2026, following the show's Christmas special episode that aired on 26 December 2025.[4][5] The first trailer for the series aired on 7 December 2025, during the final of the twenty-fifth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. It featured a preview of the costume masks for the series, followed by host Joel Dommett who removed a beanie hat before teasing "the most unmaskings ever".

It was also confirmed that this series would feature special "Masked Bands" during the course of the series. Two exclusive masks, "Goldfish" and "Emperor Penguin", fronted their own bands "No Trout" and "Antarctic Funkeys" in the first and second episodes respectively.[6] An additional mask, "Mole Dommett", appeared in the fifth episode to provide extra clues for the panel;[7] "Mole Dommett" was revealed as Olly Murs in the following episode.[8]

Panellists and host

Prior to the series, it was announced that Joel Dommett would return as the show's presenter, with Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan and Maya Jama all returning to the panel.[9]

Anne-Marie and Matt Lucas served as guest panellists in the first and second episodes after being unmasked as "Goldfish" and "Emperor Penguin" respectively. Freddie Flintoff served as a guest panellist in the third episode. Ben Shephard, who would later be revealed as "Conkers" in the final, served as a guest panellist in the fourth episode. Perrie Edwards served as guest panellist in the fifth episode. Olly Murs served as a guest panellist is the sixth episode after being unmasked as "Mole Dommett". Katherine Ryan, who appeared in the fourth series as "Pigeon", served as a guest panellist in the semi-final. Samantha Barks, who won the previous series as "Pufferfish", served as a guest panellist in the final.

Contestants

The fifteen costume masks, including the three exclusive masks, were revealed prior to the show's airing.[10] Red Panda was edited out of the first episode due to their song choice being deemed inappropriate following the 2026 Crans-Montana bar fire in Switzerland.[11]

Stage name Celebrity Occupation Episodes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Moth Keisha Buchanan Singer SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WINNER
Conkers Ben Shephard TV presenter SAFE SAFE [a] SAFE SAFE SAFE RUNNER-UP
Toastie Mica Paris Singer/actress SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE THIRD
Can of Worms Marvin Humes Singer/TV presenter SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT
Sloth Ben Fogle Broadcaster SAFE RISK SAFE SAFE OUT
Red Panda Harry Hill Comedian SAFE SAFE RISK OUT
Arctic Fox Anton Du Beke Dancer/TV judge SAFE SAFE OUT
Monkey Business Kate Nash Singer/actress SAFE RISK OUT
Gargoyle Marcella Detroit Singer RISK OUT
Yak John Lydon Singer RISK OUT
Teabag Professor Green Rapper OUT
Disc Jockey Alex Jones TV presenter OUT
  The masked singer was safe from elimination.
  The masked singer was in the bottom two, but was not eliminated.
  The masked singer was eliminated from the competition and unmasked upon their elimination.
  The masked singer did not perform.
  The masked singer won the competition.
  The masked singer finished second.
  The masked singer finished third.
The celebrities who competed in the seventh series of The Masked Singer, pictured in order of elimination (L-R):
Special Guest: Anne-Marie ("Goldfish"), Alex Jones ("Disc Jockey"), Special Guest: Matt Lucas ("Emperor Penguin"), Professor Green ("Teabag"), John Lydon ("Yak"), Marcella Detroit ("Gargoyle"), Kate Nash ("Monkey Business"), Anton Du Beke ("Arctic Fox"), Special Guest: Olly Murs ("Mole Dommett"), Harry Hill ("Red Panda"), Ben Fogle ("Sloth"), Marvin Humes ("Can of Worms"), Ben Shephard ("Conkers"), and Keisha Buchanan ("Moth")

Not pictured: Mica Paris ("Toastie")

Episodes

Episode 1 (3 January)

"Goldfish" and their masked band "No Trout" performed "APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars. "Goldfish" was revealed to be Anne-Marie, who subsequently joined the panel. Anne-Marie later sang her signature song "2002" unmasked.

On the day this episode was due to air, ITV announced schedule changes with the episode duration being cut. It was later announced that "Red Panda" would be edited out of this episode due to their song choice not being appropriate following the then-recent 2026 Crans-Montana bar fire in Switzerland.[12] The performance was however included on the video-on-demand version on Sky UK's Catch Up TV.[13]

Performances on the first episode[14]
# Stage name Song Identity Result
1 Red Panda "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps undisclosed SAFE
2 Moth "Hero" by Mariah Carey undisclosed SAFE
3 Disc Jockey "Pink Pony Club" by Chappell Roan Alex Jones OUT
4 Gargoyle "Filthy/Gorgeous" by Scissor Sisters undisclosed RISK
5 Sloth "Break My Stride" by Matthew Wilder undisclosed SAFE
6 Can of Worms "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast undisclosed SAFE

Episode 2 (4 January)

"Emperor Penguin" and their masked band "Antarctic Funkeys" perform "Pinball Wizard" by The Who. "Emperor Penguin" was revealed to be Matt Lucas, who subsequently joined the panel.

Performances on the second episode
# Stage name Song Identity Result
1 Arctic Fox "Get the Party Started" by Pink undisclosed SAFE
2 Yak "Sex Bomb" by Tom Jones and Mousse T. undisclosed RISK
3 Toastie "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith and Run-DMC undisclosed SAFE
4 Teabag "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Deep Blue Something Professor Green OUT
5 Conkers "Nice to Meet You" by Myles Smith undisclosed SAFE
6 Monkey Business "Maneater" by Hall & Oates undisclosed SAFE

Episode 3 (10 January)

Theme: Sports

Performances on the third episode
# Stage name Song Result
1 Monkey Business "Strong Enough" by Cher RISK
2 Toastie "Run to You" by Whitney Houston SAFE
3 Yak "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John RISK
4 Arctic Fox "Gold" by Spandau Ballet SAFE
5 Conkers "Jump Around" by House of Pain SAFE
Sing-Off Identity Result
1 Monkey Business "TiK ToK" by Kesha undisclosed SAFE
2 Yak "That's Amore" by Dean Martin John Lydon OUT

Episode 4 (17 January)

Theme: Halloween

Performances on the fourth episode
# Stage name Song Result
1 Can of Worms "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. SAFE
2 Sloth "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell RISK
3 Gargoyle "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence RISK
4 Moth "Vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo SAFE
5 Red Panda "Bat Out of Hell" by Meat Loaf SAFE
Sing-Off Identity Result
1 Sloth "Flash Bang Wallop" by Tommy Steele undisclosed SAFE
2 Gargoyle "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett Marcella Detroit OUT

Episode 5 (24 January)

Performances on the fifth episode
# Stage name Song Identity Result
1 Toastie "Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone undisclosed SAFE
2 Red Panda "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons undisclosed RISK
3 Monkey Business "As Long As He Needs Me" from Oliver! Kate Nash OUT
4 Arctic Fox "Woman in Love" by Barbra Streisand Anton Du Beke OUT
5 Can of Worms "Temperature" by Sean Paul undisclosed SAFE
6 Conkers "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees undisclosed SAFE
7 Moth "Anxiety" by Doechii undisclosed SAFE
8 Sloth "Green Green Grass" by George Ezra undisclosed SAFE

Episode 6 (31 January)

"Mole-Dommett" was revealed to be Olly Murs, who subsequently joined the panel.

Performances on the sixth episode
# Stage name Song Identity Result
1 Red Panda "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas Harry Hill OUT
2 Moth "Leave (Get Out)" by JoJo undisclosed SAFE
3 Can of Worms "Pure Imagination" by Gene Wilder undisclosed SAFE
4 Sloth "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba undisclosed SAFE
5 Conkers "History" by One Direction undisclosed SAFE
6 Toastie "River Deep, Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner undisclosed SAFE

Episode 7: Semi-final (7 February)

First performances on the seventh episode
# Stage name Song Identity Result
1 Toastie "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls undisclosed SAFE
2 Conkers "Everybody in Love" by JLS undisclosed SAFE
3 Sloth "We All Stand Together" by Paul McCartney and The Frog Chorus Ben Fogle OUT
4 Moth "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean undisclosed SAFE
5 Can of Worms "Cha Cha Slide" by DJ Casper undisclosed SAFE
Second performances on the seventh episode
# Stage name Song Identity Result
1 Toastie "You're Still The One" by Shania Twain undisclosed SAFE
2 Conkers "Country House" by Blur undisclosed SAFE
3 Can of Worms "Ordinary People" by John Legend Marvin Humes OUT
4 Moth "Colors of the Wind" by Vanessa Williams undisclosed SAFE

Episode 8: Final (14 February)

First performances on the eighth episode
# Stage name Song
1 Conkers "Keep on Movin'" by Five
2 Moth "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Mariah Carey
3 Toastie "A Star Is Born" by Jocelyn Brown
Second performances on the eighth episode
# Stage name Song Duet partner Identity Result
1 Conkers "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes Andrea Corr (Snail) undisclosed SAFE
2 Moth "Die With a Smile" by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga Will Young (Lionfish) undisclosed SAFE
3 Toastie "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" by Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin Samantha Barks (Pufferfish) Mica Paris THIRD PLACE

In a change to this year's format, instead of performing one of their previous songs from the series, the final two contestants, "Moth" and "Conkers" took part in a "Final Face Off", in which they took turns to sing a different song, before duetting together.

Third performances on the eighth episode
# Stage name Song Identity Result
1 Moth "Only Girl (In the World)" by Rihanna Keisha Buchanan WINNER
2 Conkers "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers Ben Shephard RUNNER-UP
  • After singing to their individual songs in the Final Face Off, "Moth" and "Conkers" concluded their battle singing to "2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)" by Lizzo simultaneously.

Notes

  1. ^ Shephard served as a guest panellist in this episode.

References

  1. ^ Goldbart, Max (17 October 2024). "'The Masked Singer' UK Renewed For Seasons 6 & 7 Plus Digital Spin-Off 'The After Mask' By ITV". Deadline. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  2. ^ "ITV's The Masked Singer is recording in Hertfordshire this September and October". Hemel Today. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  3. ^ "How to get free tickets for The Masked Singer as hit guessing game returns". Wandsworth Times. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  4. ^ Mensah, Katelyn. "The Masked Singer and The 1% Club return dates confirmed by ITV | Radio Times". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  5. ^ "The best festive specials on UK TV this Christmas". The Independent. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  6. ^ Everett, Charlotte (11 December 2025). "Huge Masked Singer twist as show gets biggest ever upgrade for new series". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  7. ^ https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/things-to-do/national/25794175.identities-two-contestants-revealed-masked-singer/
  8. ^ Lloyd Beck, Jordan (31 January 2026). "X Factor legend Olly Murs revealed as Mole Dommett on The Masked Singer". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  9. ^ "The Masked Singer: First look promo ahead of new series which teases more unmaskings than ever before". TV Zone UK. 8 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  10. ^ "The Masked Singer Season 7". Radio Times. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  11. ^ "Masked Singer undergoes huge last-minute change as star is edited out". The Mirror. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  12. ^ Craig, David. "Why was Red Panda dropped from The Masked Singer 2026 premiere?". Radio Times. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Red Panda's Cut Performance - Masked Singer UK". YouTube. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  14. ^ Ngimbi, Emmanuella (3 January 2026). "Masked Singer live updates as two celebrities unmasked in suprise twist". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2026.