Keisha Buchanan unmasked as Moth and crowned winner of The Masked Singer UK final
The 2026 edition of the masked singing competition reached its climax on Saturday night (ET), with Keisha Buchanan revealed as Moth and announced as the series champion. The finale served up multiple duets, a double unmasking and several surprise returns as the masked performers battled for the crown.
Finale unmaskings and standout performances
The closing episode featured three finalists—Moth, Conkers and Toastie—each delivering solo performances and special duet numbers. Buchanan closed her run with a powerful cover of Rihanna’s "Only Girl (In the World)", a final flourish that helped secure her victory over the other two masked acts.
Conkers finished as runner-up and was later revealed to be television presenter Ben Shephard. Toastie took third place and the person behind that costume was unveiled as singer and former soap actress Mica Paris. The evening mixed spectacle with sentiment: a number of earlier series competitors returned to join the finalists for unique duet pairings that added both drama and vocal variety to the show.
Winner reflects on the experience
Buchanan described the experience as transformative, saying the show forced her out of her comfort zone and gave her space to perform alone after years in a group. She said she had long been a fan of the format and embraced the Moth persona, smiling throughout the run and enjoying the secrecy around her identity. The singer said a fellow panellist had been guessing her identity from early on, and she relished seeing the often-surprised reactions from the panel and audience when the mask came off.
Her victory marks a high-profile solo moment for the artist, who credited the show with helping her rediscover a more individual stage presence. The win and final performance were framed as a personal milestone as well as a competitive triumph.
Notable reveals, guest turns and duets
The finale also revealed the identities behind three one-off duet partners. Lionfish returned for a duet with Moth and was unveiled as singer-songwriter Will Young. Snail, who performed alongside Conkers, was revealed to be Andrea Corr. Pufferfish—who joined Toastie for a duet—turned out to be Samantha Barks, the season six champion and a guest panellist for the final.
Those surprise appearances gave the finale an extra layer of spectacle and nostalgia, as familiar voices and faces resurfaced to support the finalists. The night’s double unmasking added momentum to the climax, shifting the balance of suspense as the remaining identities were exposed.
The final underscored the show’s enduring mix of mystery, performance and pop-culture fun. For Buchanan, the triumph as Moth provided a high-profile solo spotlight; for viewers, the evening delivered a blend of emotional performances and carnival-like pageantry that capped the six-week run.
