Ben Fogle Revealed as Sloth on The Masked Singer
In a stunning revelation on Saturday night's penultimate episode of ITV's hit competition The Masked Singer, the celebrity behind the Sloth costume was unmasked as documentary presenter Ben Fogle. The 52-year-old, best known for fronting wilderness documentaries, narrowly missed out on a place in the final after his performance.
Judges' Wild Guesses and Surprise Unmasking
Throughout the series, judges Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan, and Maya Jama had speculated wildly about Sloth's identity. Davina McCall thought it might be financial expert Martin Lewis, while Jonathan Ross suggested actor Shane Richie. Mo Gilligan theorised it could be comedian Jack Whitehall, and Maya Jama guessed reality TV star Spencer Matthews. Guest judge Katherine Ryan even proposed actor Penn Badgley as a possibility.
After performing Paul McCartney's We All Stand Together earlier in the episode, Ben Fogle revealed himself to host Joel Dommett, saying: "It's been so fun hearing all of your suggestions! Did I surprise you?" The star then performed unmasked for the first time before bowing out of the competition altogether.
Ben Fogle's Experience and Other Celebrity Reveals
Ben Fogle, who fronts wilderness documentaries, admitted he was not a natural singer but embraced the unique challenge of the show. His unmasking follows a series of other celebrity reveals in this year's edition of The Masked Singer.
Last week, comedy legend Harry Hill was revealed as Red Panda after performing the Black Eyed Peas classic I Gotta Feeling. Harry admitted the costume had its downsides, noting: "The weird thing is, you put the thing on and you've got no inhibitions. The only downside is you're breathing your own breath because it's all trapped." He revealed his wife inspired him to sign up, describing it as a holiday after finishing a big tour.
Other stars unmasked this season include:
- Alex Jones as Disc Jockey in the first week
- Professor Green as Teabag
- John Lydon (formerly Johnny Rotten) as Yak
- Marcella Detroit as Gargoyle
- Kate Nash as Monkey Business
- Anton Du Beke as Arctic Fox
The Show's Format and Celebrity Participation
The Masked Singer features celebrities dressed in elaborate costumes to conceal their identities as they perform pop songs for the panel of judges and a studio audience. The format allows stars to perform without the pressure of being recognised, with many citing the freedom of anonymity as a key appeal.
Harry Hill explained this aspect, saying: "You have to spend a bit of time learning the words but because you’re in the outfit, you don’t have to spend time thinking about a fancy dance routine or what faces you’re going to pull because it’s all inside [the costume]."
The show continues to captivate audiences with its mix of mystery, music, and celebrity surprises, building anticipation for the upcoming final episode.
