Who is behind Bear’s mask? (Picture: Katelyn Mensah)
The Masked Singer UK is back on our screens, which means it’s also time to put our detective hats back on!
Joining the cast of competitors this year is Bear, who is attempting to throw judges Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan, and newbie Maya Jama off the scent with their riddles and cryptic clues.
Wearing an incredible costume, the celebrity behind the mask is giving strong thespian vibes, with plenty of clues in their VTs referencing Shakespeare and live theatre shows… but are they red herrings?
Predictions thrown into the mix so far include names like Monty Don and even Gordon Ramsay. So, who do you think is underneath Bear’s fury exterior?
Let’s dive into all the possibilities…
What clues are there for Bear’s identity?
Bear looks to be someone very tall (Picture: ITV)
Their costume gives off thespian vibes, so it seems to be someone with a history in the theatre
Plenty of references to performing and good luck wishes in their VTs, including a horseshoe and ‘break a leg’ sign
‘The stage is set, the audience awaits, and I am hungry for the competition’ – perhaps they appeared on a food competition show?
Said they were in the West End as a ‘cub’
Several globes featured in their VT, which perhaps references Shakespeare’s Globe in London or even the Golden Globes
A coffee cup also appeared – have they starred in a coffee commercial?
Someone who looks to be very tall
Riddle: I’m walking the stage and displaying my toil, but I’m also at home amongst flowers and soil
Who could Bear on The Masked Singer be?
Tom Davis
Is Tom Davis inside the costume? (Picture: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
Bear made a point of saying they hope to ‘avoid a comedy of errors’ on The Masked Singer.
As comic Mo Gilligan pointed out, Tom Davis is known for doing stand-up comedy, and he can sing.
What’s more, the star is an actor, having appeared in the 2023 movie Wonka most recently.
Elsewhere, Tom, 45, is best known for his role as DI Sleet in the BBC Three comedy Murder in Successville. He also played Gary King in the BBC sitcom King Gary.
He’s made appearances on panel shows as himself too, including A League of Their Own.
Patrick Stewart
Sir Patrick Stewart is a theatre and film veteran (Picture: Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Davina McCall suggested that Sir Patrick Stewart could be the celebrity behind the singing bear.
The acting legend is no stranger to the theatre, with a career on both stage and screen spanning over seven decades.
With Grammys and Tony Awards to his name, he’s a real veteran of all things showbiz, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was knighted by the Queen in 2010.
The Shakespeare clues certainly match up as, in 1966, Sir Patrick became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Sir Patrick’s acting credits include his leading role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, which catapulted him to international stardom. He has also appeared in X-Men.
His first television role was in Coronation Street in 1967.
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay is no stranger to a food competition show (Picture: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Maya Jama picked up on the clue: ‘The stage is set, the audience awaits, and I am hungry for the competition.’
She believes this has something to do with a food competition show, hence her Gordon Ramsay prediction.
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon has been judging other people’s cooking for years in TV shows like Kitchen Nightmares and Hell’s Kitchen.
Christopher Biggins
Christopher Biggins is an old hand at panto (Picture: ITV)
Jonathan Ross believes Christopher Biggins could be inside Bear’s costume thanks to one big clue.
Bear’s introductory clue package made a point of showing a Goldilocks sign and a bowl of porridge.
Because of this, Jonathan believes Bear could be someone who appeared in the 1974 TV series of the same name.
Biggins starred in Porridge as Lukewarm for several episodes, a role that propelled him to fame.
The actor is also known for his roles in other 70s TV series Poldark and I, Claudius.
In recent years, he’s become associated with his 2007 winner’s stint in the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle and his numerous pantomime performances.
Monty Don
Monty Don is the host of Gardeners’ World (Picture: BBC)
Ears pricked up when Bear revealed their riddle, which contained what sounded like a gardening reference.
‘I’m walking the stage and displaying my toil, but I’m also at home amongst flowers and soil,’ it said.
Monty Don is a horticulturist, broadcaster, and writer. He’s best known as the lead presenter of the BBC gardening series Gardeners’ World.
The Masked Singer airs each weekend on ITV1 and ITVX.
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