In a stunning revelation on Saturday night's episode of ITV's The Masked Singer, the glittery purple Yak was unmasked as none other than punk rock icon John Lydon. The 69-year-old former Sex Pistols frontman, famous as Johnny Rotten, saw his disguise removed after losing a sing-off against the contestant known as Monkey Business.
Flintoff's Spot-On Guess Stuns Punk Legend
The sports day-themed instalment featured a special guest judge, cricket legend Freddie Flintoff, who joined the regular panel of Jonathan Ross, Maya Jama, Mo Gilligan and Davina McCall. Flintoff made an immediate impact, correctly identifying Lydon as the Yak following his performance of Olivia Newton-John's "Physical".
After the unmasking, Lydon expressed his amazement at Flintoff's quick deduction. "A lot of the clues beat around the bush. But, I mean, it’s kind of obvious my voice, isn’t it?" he remarked. The singer joked about his attempts to disguise his distinctive vocal style, saying, "I didn’t want to give the game away, so I tried everything I could not to come across as a singer. It apparently worked."
Why the Punk Icon Joined a Prime-Time Singing Show
Lydon, known for his rebellious spirit with The Sex Pistols, described his time on the family-friendly show as "unbelievable" and said he "absolutely loved it." He revealed a practical motivation for his participation: 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," Lydon explained, adding, "We’re independent."
He aimed to show a different side of himself to viewers. "I hope the fun comes across," he said. "Rather than going up there and doing singalong and guessing who I am straight away, I thought, show the other side of me. An absolute funster. I’m the court jester by nature."
What's Next for The Masked Singer and Lydon?
The episode, which aired on 10 January 2026, also featured performances from characters Toastie, Arctic Fox and Conkers, who all progressed to the next round. The show is hosted by comedian Joel Dommett and airs on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Lydon's unveiling marks another major celebrity reveal for the popular ITV competition, following the 2025 series win by musical theatre star Samantha Barks as Pufferfish. Lydon's recent history includes a high-profile court battle against his former Sex Pistols bandmates over the use of their music in a Disney+ series, after which he vowed never to return to the group.
