The latest episode of The Masked Singer UK delivered one of the most unexpected moments in the show's history, as fan-favourite contestant Queen Corgi made the dramatic decision to withdraw from the competition entirely. The shock announcement came during Wednesday's broadcast, leaving both the judging panel and the studio audience utterly stunned.
An Unprecedented Exit
As host Nick Cannon prepared to reveal which performer would be eliminated following the evening's performances, Queen Corgi stepped forward to make what she termed an "announcement." To audible gasps from the audience, she declared: "I am officially withdrawing from the competition."
Judge Ken Jeong immediately shouted "No!" from the panel, while Cannon appeared genuinely flabbergasted, noting that no contestant had ever voluntarily withdrawn from the show at such an early stage in the season. Fellow judges Jenny McCarthy and Rita Ora expressed their disappointment, with McCarthy insisting Queen Corgi could have gone "all the way" to the final, while Ora revealed that the mysterious performer's act had been her favourite of the evening.
The Reasoning Behind the Decision
Queen Corgi explained her surprising choice by stating: "I just feel my time has come. I've learned so much about myself, but my time is up." She elaborated that she wanted to give the other contestants a better opportunity to shine, suggesting a remarkably selfless motivation for her departure.
Following her announcement, the identity reveal proved equally surprising for the judges, who had speculated wildly about who might be behind the elaborate canine costume. Their guesses had included prominent comedians Amy Schumer, Ali Wong, and Whitney Cummings, but all proved incorrect.
The True Identity Revealed
When Queen Corgi finally removed her mask, she was revealed to be Claudia Oshry, the wildly popular podcaster and comedian who initially gained fame through her viral Instagram account Girl With No Job. Oshry has since achieved greater prominence as co-host of the daily podcast The Toast, which she presents alongside her sister Jackie Oshry.
The judges had been misled by Oshry's New York-themed clues, which they interpreted as pointing toward someone with connections to Saturday Night Live. In reality, the clues referenced Oshry's upbringing in New York City and her 2022 stand-up performance at the iconic Madison Square Garden, which had been subtly hinted at through a theatre marquee clue during her segment.
Post-Reveal Reactions and Humour
After the unmasking, Jenny McCarthy told Oshry: "I can't believe you're leaving! You are gonna be the one who got away." Oshry responded with characteristic humour, joking: "I feel like it wouldn't be fair to everyone else to keep singing because I'm so good."
She reflected on her experience, saying: "My dream is to be a pop star. I got to live out my dream," before revealing a more personal reason for her departure - she had given birth just four months earlier and felt she needed to prioritise time with her new baby.
Oshry also humorously suggested that listeners of The Toast would be excited to see her television appearance, noting that she's "always singing" on her podcast and her fans are constantly "begging [her] to stop." She concluded her segment with a reprise performance of Sia's Unstoppable, bringing her Masked Singer journey to an emotional close.
Episode Four's Additional Highlights
The episode featured an unusual Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme, with judges sporting colour-coded outfits and eye masks, while host Nick Cannon wore a suit loosely inspired by the Turtles' mentor, Master Shredder.
Due to Queen Corgi's voluntary withdrawal, Cannon did not reveal which performer had received the fewest viewer votes, meaning one of the remaining contestants received an unexpected reprieve from elimination.
The Mystery of 14-Karat Carrot
The episode also featured the season's second wild-card appearance from new performer 14-Karat Carrot, who delivered a spirited performance of Sam & Dave's Hold On, I'm Comin'. The Carrot's clues included a van labelled "Moetown Landscaping," leading judges to speculate about a Motown connection, and graffiti reading "longest running," which prompted Ken Jeong to dub the mystery singer a potential "legend."
Additional clues included a baseball bat, suggesting a sports connection, and references to having been "locked away" and now living the "golden life." The judging panel's guesses ranged from soul legend Al Green to Otis Williams of The Temptations and Earth, Wind & Fire's Dean White, with Jeong even jokingly suggesting Morgan Freeman before bursting into laughter at his own improbable guess.
The episode's dual surprises - Queen Corgi's unexpected withdrawal and the continuing mystery of 14-Karat Carrot's identity - made for one of the most memorable instalments in The Masked Singer's fourteenth season, demonstrating the show's continued capacity to deliver genuine shocks and compelling entertainment.
