The new year can only mean one thing for British television fans: the return of The Masked Singer UK. The seventh series of the wildly popular ITV guessing game, hosted by Joel Dommett, kicked off on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 6.30pm on ITV1. Once again, judges Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan, and Maya Jama are tasked with identifying celebrities hidden within elaborate costumes based on their singing voices and cryptic clue packages.
Unravelling the Mystery of Moth
Among the twelve new contestants for this 'history-making' series is the enigmatic Moth. This character immediately captivated the panel and audience with a powerful performance of Mariah Carey's 'Hero'. The clue package that preceded the song was packed with intriguing hints about the celebrity's identity.
Moth spoke with a posh accent and delivered several telling lines. They declared, 'It's time for me to face the music' and stated, 'I've grown bigger than my wildest dreams,' using imagery of transformation from a larvae to suggest a journey to fame. They also cited three necessities for a successful 'Moth-dition': 'Grace, power and presence'. A significant geographical clue came with the statement, 'I've served in the West', widely interpreted as a reference to London's West End theatre district.
Decoding the Visual Clues
The video clues provided a rapid-fire series of images for the detectives to ponder. Viewers were shown brief glimpses of:
- A carrot
- A candlestick
- A framed picture of comedian Ronnie Corbett
The package concluded with Moth holding a blue jay. Piecing these visual hints together with the vocal performance has led to several compelling theories about who is behind the mask.
Top Suspects for Moth's Identity
The judging panel and online sleuths have wasted no time in putting forward names. Judge Jonathan Ross was the first to suggest a major pop star. Noting the blue jay and the exceptional vocals, he theorised it could be Jessie J. The 'Price Tag' singer certainly possesses the powerhouse voice and, crucially, began her career on the West End at age nine in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Whistle Down the Wind'.
Davina McCall offered a convincing case for an American actress. She pointed out that Molly Ringwald starred in a 1993 film called 'Face the Music' – directly referencing Moth's opening line. The carrot could allude to her iconic red hair, while the candlestick nods to her early role in 'Sixteen Candles'. Her career evolution also fits the 'transformation' theme.
Meanwhile, sharp-eyed fans on social media are championing a different candidate altogether: Sugababes icon Keisha Buchanan. While the panel didn't mention her, many viewers are convinced the distinctive vocal tone belongs to the 41-year-old girl group legend, who also has West End experience.
Other names in the mix include powerhouse vocalists Paloma Faith and Alexandra Burke, both of whom have strong stage pedigrees. As the competition continues, more clues will undoubtedly emerge to narrow down the field. One of the ten concealed celebrities will be unmasked each week until the winner is revealed.
