ITV The Masked Singer's Maypole identity 'rumbled' after Rita Ora debunks popular theory

ITV The Masked Singer's Maypole identity 'rumbled' after Rita Ora debunks popular theory

WATCH NOW: Maypole joins fellow competitors in The Masked Singer trailer

ITV
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 03/02/2024

- 07:00

Maypole's true identity remains one of the biggest question marks of the series

Maypole may have just been exposed as a member of a chart-topping girl group after Rita Ora returned to the Masked Singer judging panel last weekend.

The disguised singing contestant was long rumoured to be the Anywhere singer after she'd been absent for Maypole's first few performances.


But after taking her spot alongside Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan, Jonathan Ross and guest judge Ellie Goulding, Ora ruled out the possibility that it was her under the mask.

Instead, over half of the panel were convinced they'd rumbled Maypole as The Saturdays performer Vanessa White.

Goulding, McCall and Ora were all unanimous in their predictions that it was White under the mask while Ross opted for Charli XCX and Gilligan tipped Katy B to be the masked performer.

But according to new data - and several fans' theories - all five judges are set to be proved wrong after a member of the Pussycat Dolls skyrocketed to the top of bookmakers' thinking.

Maypole performs on The Masked Singer

Who is Maypole?: The Masked Singer fans are convinced they've worked out Maypole's identity

ITV

Melody Thornton is the singer who's emerged as the frontrunner to be exposed as Maypole once they're eliminated from the competition.

James Leyfield, betting expert at Gambling.com, explained to GB News: "Maypole has slipped to 4/1 third favourite (to win the show) with Rita out of the equation, and former 3/1 favourite Melody Thornton is now the 6/4 frontrunner to be the character.

"Several clues appear to match up, including the year 1984, which is when Melody was born, and a doll, which could be a nod to her being a member of The Pussycat Dolls.

"What's more, a ball was another clue, and she was Mirrorball on The Masked Singer Australia in 2022."

Melody Thornton

The Masked Singer's Maypole: Could Melody Thornton be under the mask?

GETTY

The bookies aren't alone in their thoughts either as X, formerly Twitter, was also awash with ITV viewers sharing their opinions on Maypole's latest performance.

Convinced they'd worked out Maypole's identity, one fan penned: "Cannot stop thinking about the Maypole performing Sweet Melody?? AND the fact it is clearly Melody Thornton from The Pussycat Dolls. Iconic beyond belief #MaskedSingerUK."

Meanwhile, a second mulled over the possibility: "Maypole is Melody Thornton or Vanessa White. #MaskedSingerUK."

"Omg it's Melody Thornton as Maypole!!! #MaskedSingerUK," a third fan said while a fourth weighed in: "Sweet Melody (clue song), Melody (first name). Maypole - Melody Thornton #MaskedSingerUK."

ITV The Masked Singer

ITV The Masked Singer: Rita Ora isn't in the running to be Maypole anymore

ITV

The predictions kept coming as another added: "Maypole is Melody Thornton. Song was a clue, 'named well' = Sweet Melody. Sheep and names in the VT = Dolly The Sheep. Dolly = Pussycat DOLLS #MaskedSingerUK." (sic)

Maypole isn't the first celebrity performer to have fallen victim to armchair sleuths so far this series as several other contestants appear to have been rumbled.

Eiffel Tower caught the eyes - and ears - of several Masked Singer viewers who are now convinced they're one of Ted Lasso's leading stars.

And Air Fryer looks destined to be unmasked as a Hollywood A-lister - and not frontrunner Keala Settle.

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