ITV's The Masked Singer delivered its most jaw-dropping reveal yet on Saturday night, as punk icon John Lydon was sent home after being unmasked as the Yak.
A Shocking Exit for a Punk Legend
Following performances from the remaining characters – Toastie, Arctic Fox, Conkers, and Monkey Business – the panel faced a tough choice between saving Yak or Monkey Business after they landed in the bottom two. The celebrity judges, Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan, and Maya Jama, ultimately voted to save Monkey Business, sealing Yak's fate.
When the elaborate headpiece came off, the studio audience and viewers at home were met with the unmistakable face of the Sex Pistols frontman. Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten, seemed to take his elimination in good humour, though he had some complaints about his cumbersome costume.
"This thing weighs, well as much as a Yak! I couldn't see a thing," he quipped. He also admitted that his distinctive voice might have given the game away, stating, "It's kind of obvious my voice isn't it? I tried everything I could not to come across as a singer, apparently it worked!"
Viewers React with Astonishment
The revelation sent shockwaves across social media, with fans of the show expressing their utter disbelief. Many took to platform X to share their surprise, with one viewer writing, "No effing way!!" while another commented, "I’m quite surprised that he went on this show … Johnny rotten certainly wouldn’t have."
Others were simply baffled they hadn't guessed, with posts reading "Yak is the legendary John Lydon, would never have guessed" and "Never would have guessed Johnny Rotten." The surprise was compounded by the fact that guest panelist Freddie Flintoff had correctly identified Lydon early on.
The Competition Continues
Lydon's departure marks the third celebrity elimination of the current series. He follows in the footsteps of Alex Jones, revealed as Disc Jockey last week, and rapper Professor Green, who was underneath the Teabag costume.
Professor Green, real name Stephen Manderson, expressed his own shock at not being recognised by the panel, despite knowing several of them personally for years. The competition continues to heat up as the remaining masked celebrities prepare for the next round, with another star set to be unmasked on Sunday night.
With each surprising reveal, The Masked Singer UK proves that anyone, from national treasure TV presenters to punk rock royalty, could be hiding behind the extravagant costumes, keeping audiences guessing every weekend.
