The Masked Singer, ITV’s wildly popular guessing game, returned for its seventh series with a bang this weekend, delivering a jaw-dropping unmasking that left both judges and viewers reeling. Sunday night’s episode, which aired on January 4, 2026, featured the much-anticipated debut performances of six new costumed celebrities: Conkers, Arctic Fox, Toastie, Monkey Business, Yak, and, most memorably, Teabag. While the show is no stranger to surprise reveals, few could have predicted the identity hidden beneath the Teabag mask—a twist that sent shockwaves through social media and the studio alike.
Teabag, after a spirited rendition of Deep Blue Something’s 1996 classic ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, found themselves in the bottom two alongside Yak. The celebrity panel—composed of Davina McCall, Maya Jama, Mo Gilligan, and Jonathan Ross—opted to save Yak, sealing Teabag’s fate and setting the stage for the night’s big reveal. As host Joel Dommett prepared to unmask the eliminated contestant, speculation ran rampant both in the studio and online, with guesses flying from all directions. Mo Gilligan confidently named House of Games presenter Richard Osman, Davina McCall went for historian and TV host Dan Snow, guest judge Matt Lucas guessed Stephen Merchant, and Jonathan Ross threw rugby star Mike Tindall into the mix. Maya Jama, notably, guessed Judge Rob Rinder. But none were even close.
When the mask finally came off, the audience—and the nation—were stunned to discover that Teabag was none other than Professor Green, the chart-topping rapper and musician whose real name is Stephen Paul Manderson. Known for hits like ‘Read All About It’, ‘Just Be Good to Green’, and ‘Never Be a Right Time’, Professor Green’s presence on the show had eluded even his own friends on the panel. According to ChronicleLive, the judges were left “gobsmacked” by the revelation, a sentiment echoed by the flood of reactions from viewers on X (formerly Twitter). One fan exclaimed, “I love a good ‘YOU WHAT?!’ reveal. Like what do you mean Professor Green was a teabag.” Another wrote, “PROFESSOR GREEN?! WHAT?! I used to be a big fan of him but never would’ve guessed him in a million years!!”
Professor Green himself seemed equally amused by the panel’s inability to crack the case. Speaking to host Joel Dommett after his unmasking, he confessed, “Do you know what? I know four of the panel over the last fifteen years. I’ve seen all of them multiple times, and quite regularly at times, and none of them were anywhere near [guessing it was me]. I was laughing behind the mask. I just thought surely one of them is going to get it. But no one guessed.” He added, “It was nice being able to hide behind a mask and be silly.”
The rapper revealed he had gone to considerable lengths to disguise his identity, even adopting a posh accent and dropping clues related to royalty. “Faking a posh accent didn’t make singing any easier,” he joked, as reported by The Sun. Some of the clues in Teabag’s video package referenced his song ‘Never Be a Right Time’—with clocks as a nod to the lyrics—and his charitable work with the Royal mental health initiative, Heads Together. Despite these hints, the panel’s guesses veered wildly, with one clue about clocks leading to speculation about Sir Trevor McDonald and the Ten O’Clock News.
Maya Jama, who admitted to having spoken with Professor Green just four days before filming, was especially shocked. “He was actually my pal, so I should know!” she admitted on air. The surprise was so complete that even the rapper’s four-and-a-half-year-old son, a fan of the show, had no idea his father was hiding inside the Teabag costume. “It’s been so much fun, and I’m really happy that none of you guessed me,” Professor Green told the judges, clearly relishing his moment of victory over the panel’s detective work.
The Masked Singer’s format, which features celebrities from music, TV, film, and sport donning elaborate disguises to perform covers of well-known songs, has become a staple of British weekend entertainment. Each season, audiences and panelists alike are challenged to decipher the clues and vocal performances, with the ultimate reveal often sparking widespread debate and delight. This latest twist was no exception, with viewers openly admitting on social media that their guesses were completely off the mark. Many were convinced Teabag was Mike Tindall, the former England rugby player and royal family member, a theory that gained traction both online and among the judges. But as one viewer succinctly put it, “Teabag is… PROFESSOR GREEN! Well, who’d have thought?!”
The episode also showcased performances from the other new characters. Arctic Fox delivered Pink’s ‘Get This Party Started’, Yak took on Tom Jones’ ‘Sex Bomb’, Toastie rocked Aerosmith’s ‘Walk This Way’, Conkers performed Myles Smith’s ‘Nice to Meet You’, and Monkey Business closed the show with ‘Man Eater’. All survived to sing another week, while Teabag—Professor Green—became the second contestant eliminated from this year’s competition.
This season’s opening episode, which aired the previous night on January 3, saw The One Show’s Alex Jones unmasked as Disc Jockey after her performance of Chappell Roan’s ‘Pink Pony Club’. Jones, who participated to entertain her children, described her time on the show as “the most bizarre experience of my life.” She dedicated her performance to her kids, saying, “I want them to know that overcoming fear is a good thing. I am not a singer but I gave it a go, and I think that’s the take home for them.” Her unmasked rendition of ‘Pink Pony Club’ was met with applause from the studio audience.
Adding to the star power, the series’ first episode also featured singer Anne-Marie, who was unmasked as Goldfish after performing as the lead singer of a group called No Trout—a first for the programme. While not a competitor, Anne-Marie later joined the panel to help unmask Disc Jockey. Her presence and subsequent performance of her hit ‘2002’ added to the show’s eclectic mix of talent and surprises.
With its unique blend of spectacle, mystery, and musical nostalgia, The Masked Singer continues to capture the imagination of audiences across the UK. The shock reveal of Professor Green as Teabag is sure to go down as one of the most memorable moments in the show’s history, proving once again that, on this stage, you truly never know who might be behind the mask.
