Masked Singer UK Baffles Fans With January Halloween Special

It’s not every Saturday night that you see Frankenstein, Wednesday Addams, and a werewolf sharing a judging panel, but that’s exactly what greeted viewers of The Masked Singer UK on January 17, 2026. ITV’s hit guessing game returned with a “Spooktacular Special” that left audiences both entertained and scratching their heads over the show’s Halloween theme—airing, curiously enough, in the dead of winter.

According to Daily Mail, the latest episode featured the usual celebrity judging crew—Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Maya Jama, and Mo Gilligan—joined by special guest Ben Shephard. But this wasn’t just any episode. The panel and host Joel Dommett embraced the spooky spirit, donning elaborate costumes that made them nearly unrecognizable. Dommett kicked things off as Wednesday Addams, while Shephard transformed into the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. Maya Jama wowed in a plunging black gown, Davina McCall sported a see-through catsuit, and Jonathan Ross went all out as Frankenstein, complete with green face paint, latex gloves, and a shiny silver suit. Mo Gilligan, not to be outdone, channeled Teen Wolf with a bomber jacket, checkered shirt, and classic Converse sneakers.

This Halloween-in-January approach didn’t go unnoticed—nor unchallenged—by fans. Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) lit up with confusion and amusement. One viewer wrote, “I do not understand having a Halloween theme in JANUARY.” Another chimed in, “Why is there a Halloween themed Episode??” The general consensus? “Bit weird doing a Halloween episode in January #MaskedSingerUK.” Still, if there’s one thing The Masked Singer does well, it’s keeping its audience guessing—about both the contestants and the logic behind its themes.

The seventh series of The Masked Singer UK kicked off earlier this month, on January 3, 2026, with a fresh roster of disguised celebrities and a batch of new costumes. This year’s lineup includes Moth, Can Of Worms, Red Panda, Conkers, Arctic Fox, Toastie, Monkey Business, Yak, Sloth, Gargoyle, Disc Jockey, and Teabag. The show’s format remains delightfully familiar: celebrities perform in elaborate disguises while the panel—and viewers at home—try to deduce who’s behind the mask.

So far, three celebrities have been unmasked: Alex Jones (BBC’s The One Show) as Disc Jockey, Professor Green as Teabag, and, in a moment that sent shockwaves through the fandom, John Lydon—better known as the frontman of the Sex Pistols—as Yak. Lydon’s elimination came after his energetic rendition of Olivia Newton-John’s 1980s hit “Physical.” The unmasking prompted an outpouring of surprise and admiration online. As one fan posted, “Wow, I didn’t think that the cow on the Masked Singer was going to be Johnny Rotten!!” Another wrote, “The fact that the lead singer of the Sex Pistols has just been on TV dressed as a yak is pretty mind blowing and what makes The Masked Singer so good.”

Series seven also saw a twist during its opening weekend: two special guest contestants, Anne-Marie (Goldfish) and Matt Lucas (Emperor Penguin), were unmasked and then joined the judging panel. It’s these unpredictable moments—along with the outlandish costumes and cryptic clues—that keep fans coming back week after week.

The January 17 episode, which aired at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX, featured five masked contestants battling to remain anonymous, with one more celebrity set to be unmasked and eliminated. The format was a single-episode affair, a departure from the double-bill weekends that marked the series’ start.

But it wasn’t just the costumes and performances that had viewers talking. The identity of “Can Of Worms” became a hot topic of debate. As reported by Wales Online, fans speculated that the contestant might be a familiar face from ITV’s This Morning, with guesses ranging from Marvin Humes of JLS to TV presenter Ben Shephard himself. The clues offered by Can Of Worms were a cryptic delight: a fake American accent, pastries in the background, references to baking and breakfast TV, tending a garden patch, and a framed photo of Top Gear stars James May and Richard Hammond. The contestant even mentioned wrestling with wildlife and winning a zucchini trade show—a detail as bizarre as it is entertaining.

On X, the theories flew fast and furious. “Can of Worms has got to be Marvin Humes or Ben Shephard! #MaskedSingerUK,” one viewer declared. Another argued, “Can of worms sounds like Marvin Humes… #maskedsingeruk.” But not everyone was convinced. Some suggested other ITV personalities, like Andi Peters, while others dismissed the Marvin Humes theory entirely. “Worms sounds NOTHING like @MarvinHumes I’m sorryyyyy #MaskedSingerUK,” one user insisted.

The confusion only deepened when Ben Shephard himself appeared as a guest judge during the spooktacular episode. Many had pegged Shephard as the celebrity behind the Can Of Worms mask, so his presence on the panel seemed to rule him out—unless, of course, the show was pulling off an elaborate double bluff. “Those who marked Ben Shephard down as a guess,” one viewer joked online. Even Shephard joined in the fun, posting on Instagram, “Who doesn’t love a #spooktacular in January!! Had soo much fun joining the @maskedsingeruk panel for tonight’s show. Honestly if you think it’s surreal to watch, it’s even more wonderfully bonkers to see live!!! Bloooming loved it.”

The show’s format this year has seen the 12 contestants split into two groups, each competing over the weekend. Group one features Red Panda, Moth, Disc Jockey, Gargoyle, Sloth, and Can Of Worms, while group two includes Conkers, Arctic Fox, Toastie, Teabag, Yak, and Monkey Business. With Alex Jones, Professor Green, and John Lydon already unmasked, the guessing game has only intensified, with fans and judges alike piecing together the elaborate clues and performances.

It’s not just the costumes and the mystery that keep the show fresh. The judging panel itself has seen recent changes, with Maya Jama taking over from Rita Ora last year. Jama’s addition has been met with enthusiasm, and her chemistry with the returning judges—Ross, McCall, and Gilligan—keeps the banter lively and the guesses unpredictable.

For all its eccentricities, The Masked Singer UK continues to be a Saturday night staple, blending music, mystery, and a healthy dose of absurdity. Whether it’s a Halloween special in January or a punk legend disguised as a yak, the show proves that, sometimes, the best television is the kind that makes you ask, “Wait… what did I just watch?”

With more celebrities yet to be unmasked and plenty of wild theories still to be tested, one thing’s for sure: The Masked Singer isn’t running out of surprises any time soon.