In a stunning revelation that left the panel and audience reeling, The Masked Singer UK has unmasked the elaborate Gargoyle as legendary singer-songwriter Marcella Detroit. The 73-year-old music icon, best known as Marcy Levy and for her time in Shakespears Sister, was eliminated from the 2026 series on Saturday night after a dramatic sing-off against Sloth.
A Spooktacular Elimination
The latest episode of the bonkers ITV guessing game, hosted by Joel Dommett, delivered another jaw-dropping moment. Marcella Detroit, performing in the intricate Gargoyle costume, was sent home following her musical duel. As she lifted her mask, the studio audience erupted, with previous guesses like Cyndi Lauper and Ruby Wax instantly discarded.
Marcella is famed for providing the vocals on Shakespears Sister's monumental 1992 hit 'Stay', which spent eight consecutive weeks at number one in the UK charts. She left the band the following year and scored her own UK top 20 hit with 'I Believe' in 1994. Beyond her band success, her illustrious career includes writing with Eric Clapton and opening for David Bowie.
Clues That Baffled the Panel
Despite a series of clever clues, none of the panellists—Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Maya Jama, and Mo Gilligan—managed to correctly identify the star. One clue featured three peppers on stage, a nod to her appearance in the 'Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band' film in the late 1970s.
Another pivotal hint was a poster reading 'Gargoyl', deliberately missing the 'E'. This cleverly referenced how her former band, Shakespears Sister, also famously dropped a vowel from their name. Speaking after her unveiling, Marcella described the experience as "incredible" but admitted she was "really sad" to leave the competition.
Fan Frenzy and Future Contestants
The reveal sparked bewilderment and excitement on social media platform X. One fan exclaimed, "Wow…Marcella Detroit legend," while another praised, "Marcella Detroit has still got it what a song Stay is." Many expressed shock at not connecting the dots earlier.
Marcella's elimination follows other major reveals this series, including Alex Jones as Disc Jockey, Professor Green as Teabag, and Sex Pistols icon John Lydon as Yak. The competition continues with remaining characters like Red Panda, Monkey Business, Conkers, and Toastie all vying to succeed 2025 winner Samantha Barks.
Reflecting on her time in the secretive costume, Marcella highlighted the unique appeal of the show. "There’s a mystic about it," she said. "It’s kind of challenging, but it’s also fun because no one really knows who you are. You can just have fun with it." The Masked Singer UK continues to air on ITV1 and ITVX.
