Ben Shephard Apologises After Masked Singer Reveal as Conkers
Ben Shephard has issued a grovelling apology to fans after being unmasked as Conkers in the dramatic final of The Masked Singer. The This Morning host, who kept viewers guessing for weeks on the ITV singing contest, was finally revealed during Saturday night's last sing-off, securing third place in the competition.
Shock Unmasking Stuns Judging Panel
Shephard's identity as the quirky Conkers character came as a genuine shock to the judging panel, which included Maya Jama, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, and last year's winner Samantha Barks. The surprise was amplified by the fact that Shephard had previously appeared on the show's judging panel earlier in the series during its Halloween special, throwing everyone off his trail.
The television presenter, aged 50, finished behind Mica Paris as Toastie and eventual winner Keisha Buchanan as Moth. Despite the dramatic reveal being one of the series' biggest shocks, Shephard's immediate response was to express remorse for his performances.
"For everyone whose songs I destroyed I'm so so sorry. For everyone who listened I'm even more apologetic. For the amazing team who created Conkers you are the real stars - I can't thank you enough he was very special," Shephard stated sincerely after his unmasking.
Fans and Celebrities Rally in Support
Fans quickly flooded social media with messages of support and admiration, dismissing any need for apologies. One enthusiastic viewer commented, "No apologies needed! I had tears flowing it was incredible and soo not expected!"
Another fan added, "Oh my goodness Ben Shephard you were brilliant! I wanted you to win. But very well done. I really didn't think it could be you as I've never seen you move around so much haha!" Daytime television queen Lorraine Kelly also joined the chorus of praise, responding to the reveal with a simple but emphatic "Fabulous!!!"
Shephard Reflects on the Experience
After being unmasked, Shephard explained his motivation for joining the show to host Joel Dommett. "It's an extraordinary experience, having turned 50, I thought I've got to do a few more scary things," he revealed.
He continued, "And I think tonight was probably my favourite, and it felt like I'd won just being able to come on the show, so I could just really enjoy that song (The Killers' Mr Brightside), I know my boys love that song. It's been such an extraordinary journey."
Keisha Buchanan Crowned Champion
Sugababes star Keisha Buchanan was ultimately crowned the champion of this year's series after being revealed as Moth. The 41-year-old singer delivered powerful performances throughout the competition, including renditions of Rihanna's Only Girl (In The World) and Foreigner's I Want To Know What Love Is during Saturday's final. Her identity was correctly guessed by panellist Maya Jama.
Speaking after her victory, the pop star reflected on the transformative experience. "Honestly, I've had the best time, I think I'm more of an introvert than I am an extrovert, actually. And I think this has, you know, without the girls by my side, it's kind of like made me a lot more confident, and it's really brought me out of my shell," Buchanan shared.
Other Notable Contestants and Performances
The competition also featured several other notable celebrities in elaborate costumes:
- Samantha Barks returned as Pufferfish
- Andrea Corr of The Corrs performed as Snail
- Will Young appeared as Lionfish
Mica Paris, who finished third as Toastie, expressed her delight with the experience. "I've had the best time, it's been so amazing. I wanted to do it for my grandkids... they don't (know that I am doing The Masked Singer), they know I'm doing a show but they don't know what it is," she revealed.
The entire series of The Masked Singer is available for catch-up viewing on ITVX, allowing fans to relive all the dramatic reveals and memorable performances from this entertaining competition.
