Keisha Buchanan unmasked as Moth and crowned The Masked Singer UK 2026 champion
On the night of 14 February 2026 (ET) the mystery was solved: Moth was revealed to be Keisha Buchanan. The former Sugababes frontwoman won the series after a packed final that saw vocal showdowns, celebrity duets and dramatic unmaskings as Conkers and Toastie were revealed as Ben Shephard and Mica Paris respectively.
Final showdown and the reveal
The closing episode narrowed the contest to three masked performers: Moth, Conkers and Toastie. Each delivered high-energy sets, and the studio audience and panel delivered verdicts that mixed admiration with bewilderment. When Moth was declared the winner and peeled away the costume, viewers saw Keisha Buchanan standing centre stage — a reveal that prompted audible gasps from the panel and cheers in the crowd.
Conkers finished in second place and was unmasked as television presenter Ben Shephard, while Toastie took third place and revealed soul singer and broadcaster Mica Paris. The final also reunited earlier contestants for special duet performances, adding an extra layer of spectacle and a final opportunity for the show’s signature guessing game to throw up surprises.
Keisha Buchanan: from Sugababes to masked champion
Keisha Buchanan spoke openly about the experience, calling the competition both grueling and beautiful. She said the format pushed her to tackle material outside her usual repertoire, naming Whitney Houston and Aerosmith as particularly daunting choices. Buchanan admitted she had never performed some of the songs before and described facing tracks by those artists as one of the toughest parts of the run.
The win offers a fresh chapter in Buchanan’s public life, reintroducing her voice to a mainstream primetime audience in a context that emphasised theatricality and vocal challenge rather than the familiar group dynamic she’s best known for. For long-time fans, the unmasking was a moment of celebration; for new listeners, it served as a reminder of her distinct tone and phrasing.
Panel drama, guesses and audience reaction
The panel made their best attempts at sleuthing, and their reactions formed a key part of the evening’s entertainment. One panellist had been convinced Moth was another well-known singer, while another celebrated an accurate hunch. The mixture of correct and wildly off-base guesses added to the show’s unpredictable charm and kept the studio buzzing right up to the final reveal.
Beyond the judges, social-media chatter and viewer conversation lit up as the night progressed. Fans dissected clues, debated vocal clues and replayed moments where the masked performers’ styles hinted at their real identities. The final’s blend of theatrical costume design, elaborate staging and vocal risk-taking ensured the episode landed as one of the season’s most talked-about instalments.
With Keisha Buchanan lifting the Masked Singer crown, producers close this chapter of the series while the singer walks away with renewed headlines and a reminder of her place in contemporary pop culture. The show’s format — a collision of mystery, music and spectacle — once again proved a reliable conduit for surprising reunions between performers and mainstream audiences.
