The much-anticipated finale of The Masked Singer UK’s sixth season will air tonight (February 15), and the final three characters are ready for their big reveal.
This series has already unmasked a host of high-profile names hidden behind the eccentric costumes, including Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway, Bake Off judge Prue Leith, 90s pop sensation Macy Gray, T’Pau’s Carol Decker, and TV host Mel Giedroyc.
The reveals have been coming quickly, with two double unmaskings occurring over consecutive weekends. First to be revealed were artist Grayson Perry and Irish singer Andrea Corr, who were disguised as Kingfisher and Snail, followed by rapper Example and EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy, who were hiding behind the Bear and Bush masks.
Only three characters are left – Dressed Crab, Pufferfish and Wolf. One costume, in particular, has taken social media by storm, with fans raving about Pufferfish’s exceptional vocals – arguably some of the best the ITV show has ever witnessed.
So, let’s delve into the prevailing theories about the mesmerising singer ahead of tonight’s grand finale, reports the Mirror.
Samantha Barks
Musical theatre enthusiasts – myself included – were quick to spot a similarity between Pufferfish’s vocals and those of West End star Samantha Barks, and all the clues also seem to align.
Samantha is famed for her portrayal of Éponine in the 2012 film rendition of Les Misérables, which ties in with a French tricolour highlighted in a recent video clip. Clues from last weekend also echoed the musical with an image of empty chairs at an empty table – a nod to the beloved song within it.
Disney links keep surfacing for Pufferfish, resonating well with Samantha as she took on the iconic role of Elsa in Frozen the Musical on London’s West End, enchanting audiences from 2021 to 2024.
Furthermore, Samantha’s cinematic collaborations include working with Anita Dobson, fitting the Angie Watts clue, and the striking similarity between Pufferfish’s attire and Samantha’s outfit from her beginnings in the BBC’s I’d Do Anything.
Davina McCall weighed in, too, suggesting Samantha’s name following Pufferfish’s evocative performance of What Was I Made For? from the Barbie flick.
“This is somebody who was in Les Mis. Last time we saw you, we saw quite a lot of Disney, so I’m thinking princess, I’m thinking a more modern Disney princess,” Davina speculated.
“Samantha Barks, Elsa. One of the most popular Disney princesses in the West End is Frozen. Disney royalty, Samantha Barks. That is her voice.”
Is Samantha truly behind the mask? Anticipation grows, but only time will reveal if guesses align with reality.
Lea Michele
Departing briefly from speculation around Samantha, Lea Michele of Glee fame has also been considered a possibility.
Earlier clues hinting at Glee in Pufferfish’s performances had Maya Jama considering Lea, who starred as Rachel Berry in the acclaimed musical series.
“I’m thinking definitely a singer, your voice is amazing. That took me to Glee because there was mention of Glee, and then I thought, ‘What about Lea Michele from Glee?’ Singer, performer,” Maya shared earlier on.
Pufferfish then delivered a dazzling performance of Barbra Streisand’s 1964 classic Don’t Rain on My Parade – a number famously covered by Lea in Glee’s debut season.
Adding to the speculation, Pufferfish’s so-called “scream” of a holiday postcard could signal a nod towards the US celebrity, given her role in the comedy series Scream Queens. Could Lea Michele be the one behind the mask?
Other predictions for Pufferfish’s identity range widely, including American celebrities like Nicole Richie, Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry, Jamie Lynn Spears, and Nicole Scherzinger. British guesses are placing bets on Jodie Prenger, Stacey Solomon, and even Kate Moss.
Clues suggest Pufferfish has collaborated with some remarkable personalities, learns quickly, and isn’t just a “one-hit wonder”.
Enthusiasm is high among fans for Pufferfish’s run on The Masked Singer, with a supporter passionately commenting on X (formerly Twitter ): “The Pufferfish has got to be one of the BEST contestants that has ever been on The Masked Singer worldwide – they HAVE to win!!”
“If Pufferfish doesn’t win, then I just don’t get it,” declared one fan, while another was just as insistent, saying: “Pufferfish is arguably the best vocalist this show has ever had!!!!! She needs to win!!!!! UNREAL.”
There’s a palpable buzz around the mysterious character behind the mask, showcasing seasoned performance chops with staggering vocal talent. The buzz around town questions whether it could be Samantha Barks or Lea Michele under that guise. With anticipation rippling through the crowd, the reveal is eagerly awaited.
The Masked Singer UK is available to watch on ITVX