The Masked Singer UK unveils Strictly star after first double elimination of 2026

[dutchman]

Who were Monkey Business and Arctic Fox?



The Masked Singer UK has aired the first double elimination of its seventh season, unveiling a Strictly Come Dancing star and a famous singer behind the masks of Arctic Fox and Monkey Business respectively.

In tonight's (24 January) show, both contestants were eliminated from the 2026 series, leaving Toastie, Red Panda, Can of Worms, Moth, Conkers and Sloth still in the competition. But, who was behind the mask? Were the judges and the audience right in their predictions?

The first one to be eliminated was Monkey Business, whose last performance was with the song 'As Long As He Needs Me' from the musical Oliver. After the elimination, it was revealed that musician and actor Kate Nash was under the mask all along. Judges didn't see that coming, with previous guesses pointing at Lily Allen and EastEnders stars Tamzin Outhwaite and Maisie Smith.

For the Foundations singer, it was a challenge to mask her voice. "I just thought if I do this, I have to disguise my voice. Otherwise I’ll just open my mouth and everyone will just say that’s Kate Nash in a monkey suit," she said.

"Mo did say, I know that voice and I was like I know you do but you don’t! So it was quite fun to disguise it and then again with the musical theatre, putting the character and the emotion in was really fun. I liked it. I was really scared of doing a Cher song but I think she’d be down with Monkey Business," Nash continued.

Arctic Fox's elimination came next, following a moving performance of Barbara Streisand's 'Woman in Love' that failed to impress. Some judges and plenty of viewers had already guessed who it was – Strictly Come Dancing's Anton Du Beke.

"Arctic Fox is 100% Anton Du Beke!," one person wrote on X three weeks ago, while another agreed, due to a giveaway with their voice: "Arctic Fox is Anton Du Beke, 0 attempt to change his voice."

Following his elimination, Du Beke admitted to be "delighted to be able to perform but devastated to have been voted off".

"I have to be honest with you, I’ve wanted to be a part of this show for so long. It’s such a lovely show and such fun to do. Everyone is so wonderful on it. I’ve absolutely loved doing it no end," he added.

Nash and Du Beke become the fifth and sixth celebrities to be eliminated from the season following Marcella Detroit, Alex Jones, Professor Green and John Lydon, with that foursome being unveiled as Gargoyle, Disc Jockey, Teabag and Yak respectively.

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a70122182/masked-singer-uk-2026-monkey-business-arctic-fox-exit/