Stone me: Sausage takes Masked Singer 2021 crown

The final celebrities were unmasked on ITV this evening as the second season of The Masked Singer UK came to a thrilling conclusion.

Sizzling into the top spot was Sausage aka BRIT and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Joss Stone, who – in the first of two interviews – talks about her victory below.

Badger rocked his way through the series to the runner-up spot and, underneath the mask, was Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, record producer and actor Ne-Yo. JLS star, Aston Merrygold was under the Robin outfit.

What made you decide to take on this challenge?

I received some very exciting news that made doing the show even more perfect for the time at which it cropped up. Also, I am always up for a laugh and this is one of the funniest and happy-making things someone could do with their time.

How hard is it to keep the secret?

Very hard. People around me were constantly trying to guess what I was doing in these weeks. Some people even got mad because I wouldn’t tell them. It’s really been quite funny how crazy people get when you keep secrets from them. Madness!

Ne-Yo came runner up as Badger

What did you think of your mask, your overall look and the character you got to play?

I honestly think the mask was why I had so much fun. Singing can be an emotional thing. It helps you and others get through so much, music is truly therapy for your soul. With that being the focus for so long you can get caught up in the deepness of it.

It doesn’t have to always be so serious and heavy. Life doesn’t have to be like that if you don’t want it to be. It made me laugh every day and it made everyone I walked past laugh. What a brilliant way to live life. I wish I never took it off really. My actual face and body are just not half as entertaining for people!

What are your thoughts on the panel and what did you think of their guesses?

The panel is a bunch of lovelies, aren’t they! Their guesses were way off but I loved them because some of them were my favourite singers. I could not believe it when I heard the names, Jennifer Hudson and Beverley Knight. I would love to be able to sing even a little bit as well as they can. In my wildest dreams, I couldn’t control my voice like Jennifer Hudson or have the stamina and fitness of Beverley. So, it was nice to hear those guesses even though they were wrong! Haha!

What did it feel like to win the show?

I honestly am still in shock. Every night I thought I was going to be unmasked. I even got my roots and lashes done at the very beginning to be ready. Haha! Silly things we do eh?!

If I am honest I didn’t really know the rules of the game before I got there. I thought it was if the panel guesses you correctly then you have to be unmasked but no it was the audience that voted for who they liked. Eek! That made it even more nerve-racking!

I just can’t believe I got so lucky to get so far. I think it was the costume that they liked rather than singing. But hey ho as long as they were smiling and laughing we all did our jobs well.

Aston Merrygold took 3rd place as Robin

Ne-Yo talks coming runner up as cool thing, Badger

What made you decide to take on this challenge?

I’ve been a fan of the show from the start! Really, I just wanted to try and see how far I could go without being identified.

How hard is it to keep the secret?

I’m not the chattiest person, even in my personal life. So, for me, it wasn’t terribly difficult to keep the secret at all.

What are your thoughts on the panel and what did you think of their guesses?

It was so hard not to laugh at some of the panel’s guesses. They REALLY had no clue who I was and I loved it!

How did it feel to leave at the point you left in the show?

I must say I was sad to go. Mainly because I still didn’t know who anybody was! I tell you, they run a super tight ship over there! But I had an absolute blast. Didn’t last long enough.

The Masked Singer will return to ITV.