Another celebrity has been revealed on the latest series of The Masked Singer UK, with punk rock royalty stepping out from behind a giant bull's head.
Yak's Final Performance and Elimination
In a sports day-themed episode that aired on Saturday, January 10, 2026 on ITV, the remaining characters fought to stay in the competition. Hosted by Joel Dommett, the panel featuring Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan, Maya Jama, Jonathan Ross and special guest Freddie Flintoff watched as Monkey Business, Toastie, Arctic Fox, Conkers and Yak performed.
The competition ultimately came down to a head-to-head sing-off between Monkey Business, who performed Kesha's 'Tik Tok', and Yak, who sang Dean Martin's classic 'That's Amore'. After the audience vote, it was Yak who was sent home, ending their run on the popular reality show.
The Big Reveal: A Punk Legend
Upon removal of the elaborate and, as he later described, 'backbreaking' Yak costume, the celebrity underneath was revealed to be none other than Sex Pistols icon John Lydon, also famously known as Johnny Rotten. He marked his unmasking by performing Olivia Newton-John's 'Physical' once more for the studio audience.
Reacting to the reveal, Lydon joked about his distinctive voice, saying, 'It's kind of obvious, my voice innit? I didn't want to give the game away, so I tried everything I could to not come across as a singer. Apparently, it worked.'
Clues, Guesses and Motivation
The panel had thrown out a variety of guesses throughout the series, including names like Leigh Francis, Jason Momoa and Harry Hill. However, it was special guest Freddie Flintoff who correctly identified John Lydon, with Jonathan Ross quickly agreeing.
Several clues pointed viewers towards the music legend. The mention of a ham and pineapple pizza was a nod to his band Public Image Ltd's song 'Hawaii'. The description 'Yak of all trades' highlighted his career as a musician, screen star and writer. Another clue referenced the famous Country Life butter advert where he was chased by cows.
When asked about his reason for joining the show, Lydon quipped that he wanted to earn some 'extra cash' while recording a new album. Downplaying the idea that it was a career highlight, he added, 'I hardly think so [laughs]. For me, I hope the fun comes across. Rather than going up there and doing sing along and guessing who I am straight away, I thought, show the other side of me. An absolute funstar. I'm the court jester by nature.'
The Masked Singer UK continues next Saturday at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX, where viewers can also catch up on all previous episodes.
