The Masked Singer UK viewers watched on Saturday evening as Toad In The Hole was unveiled as American singer Macy Gray.

Bear, Pufferfish, Bush, Bear and Toad in the Hole all performed, but, unfortunately, one mystery person had to go home and it was none other than Toad. As per the show’s routine, the person behind the costume had to remove their disguise to reveal their identity.

However, before Macy’s identity was revealed, she walked off the stage when host Joel Dommett announced the sad news that she had to go home. Fans at home were shocked and, moments later, the star returned to the stage and was revealed to be American singer Macy, who did not look impressed about leaving the reality show.

And now, a source has claimed Macy was simply “blindsided” by being one of the first to leave the The Masked Singer after reaching the final of the US version as Sea Queen in 2023. The insider claimed she was “almost shellshocked to start with” and was soon “gutted to be out so early because she really enjoyed being on the American version – when obviously she did brilliantly – so was totally blindsided.”

Macy Gray is Toad in the Hole ( 
Image:
ITV)

Speaking to The Sun, they claimed: “It was the shock of it for her as well as the upset and in that moment she had a very raw, human reaction and wanted out. For a professional performer to reach that point shows how badly she felt.” The insider added that it took the people backstage a while to ‘talk her round’.

The Mirror have reached out to her reps and ITV for comment. During the awkward moment of Macy returning to the stage looking unimpressed, fans took to social media to comment on what happened. One person wrote on X: “Well that was awkward… #maskedsingeruk.”

A second added: “Wow is Macy Gray really that heartbroken that she’s been kicked off Masked Singer”, while a third chimed in: “Oh everyone looks so awkward. She walked off stage. cannot deal #maskedsingeruk #maskedsinger.” Another said: “Did anyone else feel awkward watching the last few minutes of that .. Macy Gray pls #maskedsingeruk.”

The judges had been largely convinced that Toad in the Hole was Macy Gray, who sang the classic Boney M hit Sunny on the show, and that was why they decided to send her home rather than Bear, who was the other contestant who had to sing twice to save themselves.

Asked by comedian Joel Dommett, 39, if she had fun on the show, Sweet Baby singer Macy simply answered: “Yeah”. Panellist Jonathan Ross apologised to Macy, in a joking manner, for Joel’s shorts, with the show’s host saying he really appreciated her being on the show.

Macy, 57, performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2000 and 2003 and is known for songs including I Try, which won the best female pop vocal performance Grammy in 2001. Earlier in the programme, she performed Sunny by Bobby Hebb and panellist Mo Gilligan guessed the singer could be US musician Tracy Chapman. Macy, who wore a Shakespearean-style outfit, performed Miami by Will Smith, while the character Bush sang Hold My Hand by Jess Glynne.

Elsewhere, new panellist, Maya Jama said Pufferfish’s performance of Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper was “stunning”. Wolf performed Copacabana (At the Copa) by Barry Manilow and special guest Suranne Jones said the famous face behind the mask could be Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley, while panellist Davina McCall guessed Duran Duran vocalist Simon Le Bon.

Bear and Toad In The Hole performed again after Wolf, Bush and Pufferfish were saved. Bear performed Stay by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber, while Toad In The Hole sang It Must Have Been Love by Roxette, with the panellists ultimately choosing to save Bear. Last weekend, Sir Mo Farah was revealed as the celebrity inside the costume portraying host Joel.