The glittering mystery of ITV's The Masked Singer has claimed its first celebrity victim, with a beloved BBC presenter stepping out from behind an elaborate costume. Alex Jones, the long-standing host of The One Show, was revealed to be the star inside the Disc Jockey outfit during the show's premiere on Saturday, 3rd January 2026.
A Performance for Her Family
Jones, 48, took to the stage performing a rendition of Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club. Despite her efforts, she found herself in the bottom two against the character Gargoyle. The panel of judges – Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, and Maya Jama, alongside guest judge Anne-Marie – ultimately voted to save Gargoyle, sealing Disc Jockey's fate.
Before the unmasking, the panel threw out a series of wild guesses. Mo Gilligan suggested radio icon Annie Mac, while Davina McCall thought it could be football Lioness Jill Scott. Jonathan Ross guessed BBC Radio 2's Sara Cox, and Maya Jama ventured 80s superstar Bonnie Tyler. Anne-Marie, who missed the performance, amusingly guessed "that bird on the cake show," a reference to Dame Mary Berry.
An Emotional Reveal and Dedication
When the mask finally came off, Alex Jones addressed host Joel Dommett and the judges. "I have had a lot of fun," she said. "We love this programme, as a family, and I just thought it would be a lot of fun and that to do it for my children would be wonderful. And it's the most bizarre experience of my life!"
Fighting back emotion, the mother-of-three dedicated her brief stint on the competition to her kids: "Teddy, Kit and Annie, this was for you. I hope that you've loved it." She then closed her time on the show with an unmasked reprise of her song, earning massive applause from the studio audience.
Overcoming Fear for Her Children
Speaking after her exit, Jones explained her motivation further, hoping to set an example for her children. "I want them to know that overcoming fear is a good thing," she stated. "I am not a singer but I gave it a go, and I think that’s the take home for them... hopefully it will be something special they remember when they grow up."
She joked about how they might look back on the moment: "They’ll think ‘God, our mother, do you remember when she dressed as a disc jockey and she sang on national television without any sort of voice?’"
The competition continues with Gargoyle, Red Panda, Can of Worms, Moth, and Sloth all remaining in the contest. A second batch of celebrities, including Monkey Business, Teabag, and Toastie, are set to perform for the first time on Sunday, 4th January.
This season has introduced a new twist with a live band, which host Joel Dommett praised for bringing incredible energy. The premiere episode also featured the unmasking of pop star Anne-Marie as Goldfish, who had performed as part of a fictional band called No Trout, marking another first for the series.
