Ben Shephard has candidly discussed the elaborate deception involved in his secret participation on ITV's The Masked Singer, a revelation that left his This Morning co-host Cat Deeley in tears and the judging panel utterly gobsmacked. The 51-year-old television presenter was unmasked as the endearing character Conkers during the series seven final, securing the runner-up position in a twist that captivated viewers.
The Unmasking That Shocked the Panel
In a remarkable turn of events, Ben Shephard had previously appeared as a guest judge on the same series, adding an extra layer of surprise to his eventual unveiling. Speaking after the final, the Tipping Point presenter addressed the underhand tactics required to maintain his anonymity throughout the competition. 'As a rule, I think I’m pretty straight down the line, and the fact I got to do something so underhand...' Ben shared, reflecting on the unique experience.
Deceiving Colleagues and Maintaining Secrecy
Ben revealed that he had been interviewing unmasked celebrities on This Morning without their knowledge of his ongoing participation. 'The bizarre thing is, I have been interviewing all the unmasked celebrities on This Morning. They have no idea I’m on the show and still in it!' he explained. The isolation of the experience was palpable, as contestants are forbidden from disclosing their involvement to anyone, including family and close friends.
Following the unmasking, reactions poured in from Ben's ITV colleagues. Cat Deeley commented on Instagram, expressing her emotional response to the Conkers costume, while Gaby Roslin and Lorraine Kelly shared their enthusiastic praise. The star-studded final also featured Sugababes' Keisha Buchanan as winner Moth and actress Mica Paris as third-place Toastie.
Joel Dommett's Hilarious Secret Slip
In a humorous post-final revelation, host Joel Dommett shared a video of his two-year-old son, Wilde, inadvertently exposing Ben Shephard's identity. The clip, posted on Instagram, shows the toddler proudly announcing, 'Ben Shephard is Conker', much to Joel's amusement and dismay. The comedian captioned the video with a wise warning: 'Don’t tell a 2 year old secrets', adding that even a non-disclosure agreement failed to prevent the slip.
The Extreme Measures of Secrecy
The Masked Singer employs rigorous protocols to ensure contestants' identities remain hidden. While episodes are pre-recorded, with Joel and the judges learning the results months in advance, audience members must sign NDAs and surrender their phones. Joel previously disclosed on Sunday Brunch that live audiences are removed before the unmasking segment to preserve secrecy.
Contestants themselves adhere to strict backstage rules, wearing gloves, visors, and hoodies emblazoned with 'Don’t Speak To Me' to avoid detection. These measures underscore the show's commitment to maintaining suspense and surprise for viewers at home.
The Masked Singer continues to be available for streaming on ITVX, offering fans a chance to relive the dramatic reveals and celebrity deceptions that define the popular entertainment series.
