THE MASKED SINGER 2023 has ended and all the acts have finally been unmasked – with all the viewers saying the same thing as the winner got their crown.
In the final episode of the series, Fawn, Rhino and Phoenix had to battle it out over who got to be crowned The Masked Singer champion.
Fawn – who was revealed to be All-Saints’ Natalie Appleton – came in third place.
Then after the final showdown, the audience vote put Phoenix (aka Kaiser Chiefs’ Ricky Wilson) in second place, and gave the winner’s spot to Rhino – who was unmasked as Busted star Charlie Simpson.
While some of the judges made accurate guesses for Charlie, both Natalie and Ricky completely slipped the detection of panellists Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan, Lee Mack, Rita Ora and Jonathan Ross.
Which is especially awkward considering Rita and Ricky worked together on The Voice UK, and Charlie even gave direct nods to Jonathan about a time he interviewed Busted.
But fans are feeling pretty chuffed with themselves after guessing it was Charlie immediately – even when others believed it could’ve been James Arthur instead
“Woooooooohooooooooo not very good at getting them right on @MaskedSingerUK but I got @CharlieSimpson the minute he sang the first word in the first song!! So happy he won!!” wrote one.
“I didn’t spend 21yrs in training to not know this from the offset. Congrats, Charlie,” joked a second.
“From the first song I was never in doubt that it was Charlie Simpson – that voice is so recognizable!! A deserved winner!!” added a third.
However, some are very much Team Phoenix, thinking Ricky’s ability to stump the judges from guessing who he was making him the more worthy winner.
“So disappointed, Ricky Phoenix Wilson should’ve won!!! We all knew who Rhino was,” wrote one fan.
“Thought Phoenix should have won coz they were nowhere near guessing him,” added a second.
While a third said: “NO WAY. This is genuinely the most surprised I’ve ever been in a final?!? How did I not guess this omg I am fuming phoenix should have won !!!!”
The Masked Singer finally winds down a stunning series which has had more than a fair few surprises.
Kicking off at the beginning of the series, football pundit legend Chris Kamara was first revealed to be Ghost.
Singer Lulu was next out as Piece Of Cake, with married duo Martin and Shirlie Kemp out next after performing as Cat and Mouse.
Snooker player Stephen Hendry was hiding underneath the mask as Rubbish, and comedian Katherine Ryan shocked everyone when she was revealed to be Pigeon.
Claire from Steps fooled no one and was then revealed as Knitting, but Daisy May Cooper surprised fans when she was revealed as Otter.
In the semi-finals last week, there was two more eliminations with Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora being revealed as Jacket Potato and Glee’s Amber Riley (aka Jellyfish), who won The Masked Singer US last year, just falling short of making it to the final.
This left Fawn, Rhino and Phoenix fighting to be crowned this year’s champion, taking the crown from Natalie Imbruglia who won the 2022 series as Panda.
The Masked Singer is available to stream in full now on ITVX.
