Ben Shephard's Clever Ruse on The Masked Singer
Fans and judges of The Masked Singer were left utterly astonished during Saturday night's 2026 finale when This Morning star Ben Shephard was unveiled as the celebrity beneath the Conkers costume. The 51-year-old television presenter has now detailed the elaborate deception he employed to mislead his fellow panelists throughout the competition.
A Double Role on the Show
Shephard's revelation proved particularly shocking because he had previously served as a guest judge on a Halloween-themed edition of the program that aired in mid-January. Judges Mo Gilligan, Maya Jama, Davina McCall, and Jonathan Ross were completely dumbfounded when the runner-up contestant turned out to be their colleague from This Morning.
The moment of unmasking created genuine gasps from the panel, especially since Shephard had been actively questioning Davina McCall about the contestant experience while secretly competing himself. "I was asking her loads of questions," Shephard admitted in a post-show interview, clearly relishing his successful deception.
Embracing the Conker Persona
Shephard explained that he immediately connected with the Conker character when presented with costume options at the beginning of the process. "I think it was destiny," he revealed. "When they showed me Conkers I fell in love with it."
The television personality developed a complete backstory for his character, describing Conker as "a knight who wants to be really brave but is actually just a little bit nervous as well and actually wants people to be his mates." This careful character development helped Shephard maintain his disguise throughout eight weeks of competition.
Family Reactions and Co-host Surprise
Shephard believes his two sons, Sam (21) and Jack (19), will be "thrilled to bits" by his participation, joking that "how much ammunition have I given them for the rest of their lives?" He also anticipates that his This Morning co-host Cat Deeley will be stunned by the revelation, especially since Deeley's children are fans of the program.
The isolation of the experience proved challenging for Shephard, who couldn't reveal his participation to anyone, including the celebrities he interviewed on This Morning after their own unmaskings. "They have no idea I'm on the show and still in it!" he exclaimed.
Finale Results and Future Prospects
The 2026 finale saw Sugababes icon Keisha Buchanan crowned winner after performing as Moth, while television presenter Mica Paris was revealed as the Toasted Sandwich contestant who also reached the final. Past contestants Andrea Corr, Will Young, and Samantha Barks returned to duet with the finalists.
While it remains uncertain whether The Masked Singer will return for additional seasons beyond the two-season renewal announced in 2024, the family-friendly program continues to be a ratings success for ITV. Online fans have already expressed hopes that winner Keisha Buchanan might return as a guest judge in 2027.
Shephard described his entire Masked Singer experience as "remarkable" and "really special," particularly enjoying the opportunity to do something "so under-hand" despite considering himself typically "pretty straight down the line." His successful deception of both judges and audiences alike demonstrates the show's continued ability to surprise even its most dedicated followers.
