ITV's popular guessing game, The Masked Singer, delivered another major celebrity reveal during its Spooktacular special on Saturday, 17 January 2026. The elaborate Gargoyle costume was finally removed, unveiling the identity of the performer inside as legendary singer and songwriter Marcella Detroit.
A Spooktacular Sing-Off Sees a Legend Depart
Host Joel Dommett welcomed back five incognito celebrities for the special episode, with Ben Shephard joining the regular panel of Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Maya Jama and Mo Gilligan. As the night progressed, the characters Sloth and Gargoyle found themselves in the dreaded final sing-off. The audience vote ultimately went against Gargoyle, leading to the unmasking that confirmed the star as Detroit.
This revelation follows hot on the heels of another major unmasking the previous week. On that show, the glittery purple Yak was revealed to be John Lydon, the 69-year-old former frontman of the Sex Pistols, also known as Johnny Rotten. He was eliminated after losing a sing-off against Monkey Business during a sports day-themed episode that featured former cricketer Freddie Flintoff as a guest judge.
Lydon's Unforgettable Exit and Detroit's Arrival
After Flintoff correctly guessed his identity following a performance of 'Physical', Lydon removed his mask. He described the experience as "unbelievable" and expressed amazement that Flintoff pinpointed him so swiftly. "A lot of the clues beat around the bush. But, I mean, it’s kind of obvious my voice, isn’t it?" Lydon remarked. He joked about trying not to "come across as a singer" to preserve the mystery, quipping, "It apparently worked."
The punk icon was candid about his reason for appearing, citing the appearance fee. "I’m in the middle of recording an album and a little bit of extra cash will go a long way towards that budget," he explained, noting he operates independently. He signed off by saying, "Absolutely loved it. I’ve had a sad sack yak on my back. It’s time to go home."
With Gargoyle's exit, the remaining characters in the 2026 series, including Toastie, Arctic Fox and Conkers, progress to the next round. They will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of Samantha Barks, the musical theatre star who won the 2025 series disguised as a Pufferfish.
The Masked Singer continues to captivate audiences on Saturday nights on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
