The Masked Singer devotees are buzzing with theories about the celebrity behind this year’s Bear character on the popular ITV show.
As the fifth series graces our screens, speculation is rife among fans eager to unscramble the true identities of those still in disguise; Wolf, Snail, Bush, Kingfisher, Bear, Dressed Crab, and Pufferfish. Meanwhile celebs such as Kate Garraway and Prue Leith have already been unmasked, reports the Mirror.
Intrigue around Bear’s identity is especially high on social media, where many are suggesting that singer-songwriter Example, real name Elliot John Gleave, is the voice under the mask due to compelling clues linked to the star.
A sharp-eyed fan took to Reddit to lay out their reasoning for Bear being Example, stating: “Bear *has* to be Example. Looking at the visual clues, I’ve got these to fit. Other clues in Episode 2: ‘Home amongst flowers’ = partner is called Daisy.”
They continued to dissect the evidence: “Hungry for competition = maybe referencing the Nandos rap with Ed Sheeran. Other clues in Episode 3: ‘What a way to KICKSTART the competition’ = name of top 10 single. ‘Pet Shop Supplies’ = collab with Pet Shop Boys. ‘Herring in a Net’ = mentored in comedy by Richard Herring.”
The Redditor acknowledged potential flaws in their hypothesis, confessing: “I just can’t make ‘porridge stealing Goldilocks’ or Cliff Richard’s framed picture fit… We’ll soon see if I’m in an Example tunnel though!”
Fellow Reddit users were convinced by the theory, and even pointed out further clues. One confidently stated: “It definitely is him. The Heart Chicken is a throwback to his viral video with Ed Sheeran talking about Nando’s and their love for chicken.”
Another chimed in with: “Break a leg could also be a reference to him being injured on stage. There was a mention of ‘Craven’, he’s a Fulham fan who play at Craven Cottage. And there was a ‘Game Over’ reference which is a song he featured on.”
A third enthusiast pointed out a physical clue that aligns with the artist’s stature: “Also, Bear is noted by the panel to be quite tall, and Example is indeed quite tall (he’s 6’1″/6’2″ if I am not remembering correctly). And if this is indeed him, holy s*** is he versatile and does he have a great voice.”
With Teeth’s recent exit, the mysterious personas left vying for victory on The Masked Singer include Wolf, Snail, Bush, Kingfisher, Bear, Dressed Crab, and Pufferfish.
The Masked Singer airs on Saturdays at 7pm on ITV1, ITV X & STV.