ITV viewers were treated to a spectacular festive surprise on Boxing Day as The Masked Singer Christmas special crowned its winner, with the final reveal leaving fans in a state of joyful shock. The 90-minute extravaganza, which aired on December 26, 2025, culminated in the victory of the character Mistletoe, who was unmasked as beloved television host Dermot O'Leary.
A Festive Line-Up of Surprising Stars
Hosted by Joel Dommett, with the detective panel of Jonathan Ross, Maya Jama, Davina McCall, and Mo Gilligan, the special introduced four brand new costumes. The night kicked off with Mistletoe's emotional performance of Fairytale of New York, which immediately had panellists and viewers at home suspecting Dermot O'Leary. Their hunches were proven correct as the episode unfolded.
The first to be unmasked was Goose A-Laying, who performed I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. After losing a sing-off to Mistletoe, the costume was removed to reveal a stunned studio audience and the legendary Maureen Lipman. The Coronation Street star joked about getting too into character, saying, "I think I overgoosed myself."
Sharp Detective Work and Sing-Off Showdowns
Figgy Pudding, who delivered a moving version of When A Child Is Born, had the panel guessing names from Noel Fielding to Johnny Vegas. It was Maya Jama who correctly identified the voice as radio DJ Scott Mills, a fact confirmed when he was later unmasked.
The final new character, Santa's Sack, hinted at a 'delivery dynasty' in their clues before being revealed as national treasure Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE. She expressed her joy at participating, stating, "It was a joy for me to come on the show and sing my heart out."
The Christmas Crown Finds Its Winner
The episode was packed with additional festive fun, featuring cameo clue-dropping from panto favourites like Su Pollard, Christopher Biggins, Lesley Joseph, and Basil Brush. The final showdown saw Mistletoe and Figgy Pudding go head-to-head, with Dermot O'Leary's Mistletoe ultimately securing the Christmas crown.
Upon the reveal, a mock-outraged Davina McCall exclaimed to O'Leary, "I saw you two weeks ago and you knew you were doing this then! I'll never trust you again!" Fans celebrating on social media were quick to claim their own detective victories, with many stating they had recognised O'Leary's distinctive voice from the very first note.
