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The Masked Singer UK 2025 – Winner, Contestants, Judges Guide

James Harry Carter Sutton • 2026-04-05 • Reviewed by Maya Thompson

The Masked Singer UK returned for its sixth series on 4 January 2025, culminating in a finale that crowned West End performer Samantha Barks as the champion. The ITV competition spanned eight episodes, featuring twelve costumed celebrities concealing identities ranging from Olympic athletes to Grammy-nominated musicians.

Joel Dommett resumed hosting duties while the judging panel underwent its most significant refresh since the show’s debut, with television presenter Maya Jama joining returning detectives. The season maintained its format of weekly eliminations based on audience votes, supplemented by a digital aftershow.

The production formed part of a two-year commissioning agreement with ITV, with costume designs revealed to the public on 7 December 2024. The series concluded in February 2025, following a Christmas special that aired on 26 December 2024.

When Does The Masked Singer UK 2025 Start?

ChannelITV1
HostJoel Dommett
Series6
Premiere4 January 2025
  • Premiere date: The series launched on 4 January 2025, preceded by a Christmas special on 26 December 2024.
  • Episode count: Eight episodes comprised the full series, including the final.
  • Winner: Samantha Barks (Pufferfish) secured the title in the concluding episode.
  • Commissioning: The series operated under a two-year ITV commissioning agreement.
  • Digital extension: A companion web series, The After Mask, accompanied the main broadcast.
  • Costume reveal: Twelve main masks were announced on 7 December 2024.
  • Finalists: Gregory Porter and Marti Pellow joined the winner in the final three.
Aspect Detail
Premiere Date 4 January 2025
Christmas Special 26 December 2024
Host Joel Dommett
Series Number 6
Total Episodes 8
Winner Samantha Barks (Pufferfish)
Runner-up Gregory Porter (Dressed Crab)
Third Place Marti Pellow (Wolf)
Channel ITV1
Digital Spin-off The After Mask
Special Guest Mo Farah (Giant Joel)
Panel Change Maya Jama replaced Rita Ora

Who Are the Contestants and Masks in The Masked Singer UK 2025?

Winner and Finalists

Samantha Barks, concealed beneath the Pufferfish disguise, secured the series trophy. The actress and singer, recognised for West End productions including Les Misérables, outperformed Dressed Crab (Gregory Porter) and Wolf (Marti Pellow) in the final voting.

Semi-Finalists

Natalie Cassidy (Bush) and the musician Example (Bear) both exited during the semi-final episodes, failing to secure positions among the final three contestants.

Mid-Season Departures

Andrea Corr appeared as Snail and Grayson Perry as Kingfisher, both unmasked during episode six. Mel Giedroyc (Teeth) departed in episode five, while Carol Decker (Tattoo) exited in episode four.

Early Eliminations

American R&B vocalist Macy Gray performed as Toad in the Hole until episode three. Restaurateur Prue Leith (Pegasus) left in episode two, while television presenter Kate Garraway (Spag Bol) was the first elimination in the premiere episode.

Costume Announcement

The twelve principal costumes were publicly unveiled on 7 December 2024, preceding the Christmas special introduction of a thirteenth character.

Who Is Hosting and Judging The Masked Singer UK 2025?

Presentation

Joel Dommett returned to present the series, continuing his role from previous seasons. The comedian and television host guided audiences through the eight-week competition.

Judging Panel Composition

Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, and Mo Gilligan resumed their positions as panellists. Maya Jama joined the programme, replacing Rita Ora after five series. Jama brought experience from her role hosting Love Island to the detective panel.

Panel Refresh

Maya Jama’s appointment marked the first change to the core judging panel since the show’s 2020 debut, introducing analytical perspective from reality television hosting.

Who Won The Masked Singer UK 2024?

Series 6 followed the fifth iteration of the competition, which concluded in 2024. Rita Ora departed the judging panel after participating across five series, marking a transition period between the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Series 6 materials do not confirm the specific identity of the 2024 winner.

The continuity between seasons maintained Joel Dommett as host while introducing Maya Jama, indicating operational consistency despite the panel adjustment.

Episode Schedule and Timeline

  1. 26 December 2024: Christmas Special airs on ITV, introducing Giant Joel (subsequently revealed as Mo Farah) source
  2. 4 January 2025: Series premiere; Kate Garraway eliminated as Spag Bol
  3. Episode 2: Prue Leith (Pegasus) exits competition
  4. Episode 3: Macy Gray (Toad in the Hole) unmasked
  5. Episode 4: Carol Decker (Tattoo) revealed
  6. Episode 5: Mel Giedroyc (Teeth) departs
  7. Episode 6: Double elimination of Andrea Corr (Snail) and Grayson Perry (Kingfisher)
  8. Semi-final: Natalie Cassidy (Bush) and Example (Bear) eliminated
  9. Final: Samantha Barks (Pufferfish) wins; Gregory Porter (Dressed Crab) places second; Marti Pellow (Wolf) takes third

Established Facts and Unconfirmed Details

Confirmed Information Unclear or Rumoured
Premiere date: 4 January 2025 Specific calendar dates for episodes 2-7
Host: Joel Dommett Official viewing figures for series 6
Panel: Ross, McCall, Gilligan, Jama Series 7 commissioning status
Winner: Samantha Barks Series 5 (2024) winner identity
8 episodes total Future panel composition
Spin-off: The After Mask hosted by Harriet Rose International broadcast schedules

Production Context and Format

The series operated under a two-year commissioning agreement with ITV, securing its broadcast presence through 2025. Production introduced a companion digital programme titled The After Mask, hosted by Harriet Rose, extending content beyond the main broadcast. Cast of Fantastic Four 2015 – Actors and Their Roles demonstrates comparative ensemble casting in major television productions.

The format retained its core structure of anonymous musical performances judged by a panel and studio audience, with elimination votes revealing one celebrity per episode until the finale. The Christmas special marked the first pre-series reveal of the season, featuring Olympic athlete Mo Farah in a non-competitive appearance.

Summary

The Masked Singer UK Series 6 delivered eight episodes of anonymous competition from January through February 2025, resulting in Samantha Barks winning as Pufferfish. The season introduced Maya Jama to the judging panel alongside returning detectives, while Joel Dommett continued as host. Cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Actors, Characters and Seasons Guide provides comparative insight into ensemble television casting. Twelve main costumes and one special character featured across the series, with reveals spanning West End performers to Olympic athletes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can viewers watch The Masked Singer UK 2025?

The series broadcasts on ITV1 and streams via the ITV Hub platform. Episodes remain available for catch-up viewing following initial transmission.

What is The After Mask?

A digital spin-off programme hosted by Harriet Rose, accompanying the main series with additional content and analysis.

How many costumes appeared in Series 6?

Twelve main costumes competed in the regular series, plus one additional costume (Giant Joel) featured exclusively in the Christmas special.

Did the format change from previous series?

The core elimination format remained consistent, though the judging panel saw its first change with Maya Jama replacing Rita Ora.

When were the costumes revealed?

ITV announced the twelve main costumes on 7 December 2024, ahead of the Christmas special and January premiere.

James Harry Carter Sutton

About the author

James Harry Carter Sutton

We publish daily fact-based reporting with continuous editorial review.