Alert – The Masked Singer semi final: Bush and Bear’s identities revealed as a soap icon and a rapper as they narrowly miss out on a place in the grand final

The Masked Singer’s semi-final saw Bush and Bear narrowly miss out on a place in the grand final as their identities were revealed on Saturday.

The quirky characters had battled it out against Pufferfish, Dressed Crab and Wolf for the three places in the final, but they unfortunately fell short at the final hurdle after getting the fewest votes.

After some strong guesses, judges Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan and Maya Jama, alongside guest judge Richard E. Grant, were left stunned as Bush was revealed to be none other than soap icon Natalie Cassidy.

Her unveiling came hot on the heels of Bear, who had earlier been unmasked as rapper Example.

Natalie, who recently quit her role as Sonia Fowler in EastEnders, excitedly said of being on the show: ‘It’s been one the best jobs I’ve ever done. Absolutely amazing. 

‘My fourteen year old she’s either going to say, “mum I’m really proud of you or this is the most embarrassing thing me for me ever!”‘

The Masked Singer’s semi-final saw Bush and Bear narrowly miss out on a place in the grand final as their identities were revealed on Saturday

After some strong guesses, the judges were left stunned as Bush was revealed to be a soap icon[Bush pictured with host Joel Dommett]

Speaking about the difficulties of performing on the show, Natalie later said in an interview: ‘It was well ‘ard! It was very nerve wracking for me because I’m not a singer. 

‘I feel like I’ve challenged myself doing this and it is just so fun and because it’s something I don’t do it doesn’t really matter. So there was no pressure and I kept going through, I couldn’t believe it. I kept going and going!’

On having reached the semi-final, she shared: ‘It’s ridiculous. It’s so stupid but it’s about the character. It’s not a singing competition, it’s a guessing game. It’s not really about the singing up until the end and then I think the singing becomes important.’

Despite coming very close, none of the judges managed to identify the actress as Bush- who had wowed in the show with renditions of ABBA’s Thank You For The Music and Lisa Loeb’s Stay.

Speaking about the judges’ attempts, she said: ‘They were very close. Very, very close at times, near to the bone but I was pleased that they didn’t get me.’

She added: ‘I have got quite a recognisable voice so I can’t believe they didn’t get me!’ 

Despite the judges failing to guess her identity, several viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to remark that they knew it was Natalie all along.

They penned: ‘So happy i guessed that Bush was @Nat_Cassidy on @Masked SingerUK!!

EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy beamed as she was revealed to be Bush

Her unveiling came hot on the heels of Bear, who had earlier been unmasked as rapper Example

‘I needed this win today. I knew it all along!’ 

‘Bush was Natalie Cassidy I was adamant Stacey Solomon in the beginning but now I’m so happy I got it right !’ 

Meanwhile, after masquerading as Bear, Example said upon his unmasking: ‘I sound like me when I sing my records and I rap like me, so I needed to do something different every week!’

The musician, real name Elliot John Gleave, later went on to discuss what it was like showing a different side of him.

In an interview, he explained: ‘I’m known for dance music but I’ve done eight albums and across these there’s been every genre. I’ve done a bit of grunge, I’ve done a bit of heavy metal and obviously drum and bass and a rap over garage and house music and techno.

‘I’m quite versatile but I also just love theatre and theatrics and impressions and voices. So this show is a nice opportunity to do all that.’

Natalie, who recently quit her role as Sonia Fowler in EastEnders , excitedly said of being on the show: ‘It’s been one the best jobs I’ve ever done. Absolutely amazing’

Speaking about the judges’ attempts, she said: ‘They were very close. Very, very close at times, near to the bone but I was pleased that they didn’t get me’

The judges were stunned when Natalie took off her mask

Despite the judges failing to guess her identity, several viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to remark that they knew it was Natalie all along

On how being on The Masked Singer compares to his chart-topping music career, he added: ‘I didn’t know how far I was going to get because I’ve watched the show before and sometimes the best singers go out. 

‘By no means do I see myself as the best singer, I see myself as a really good entertainer but there are people on this show with amazing voices and they’ve gone out early so I’m extremely happy to have got to the last five. I’m buzzing, I get to fly home and see my kids.’

The unmasking of Natalie and Example came after two more celebrities were unmasked last week.

Kingfisher was revealed to be artist Sir Grayson Perry, 64, and Snail was unveiled as singer Andrea Corr, 50, leaving the audience and the judges floored.

Meanwhile, after masquerading as Bear, Example said upon his unmasking: ‘I sound like me when I sing my records and I rap like me, so I needed to do something different every week!’

‘I’m quite versatile but I also just love theatre and theatrics and impressions and voices. So this show is a nice opportunity to do all that’

After her identity was unveiled, Andrea, the lead singer of Celtic pop rock group The Corrs, quipped: ‘I had such a good time, everyone’s been lovely, it’s been really joyous. I wanted to do it for the children.’ 

She added that she ‘loved’ her glittery pink costume and hadn’t told a single person she was taking part in the ITV competition.

Meanwhile, Sir Grayson agreed that he had a ‘lovely time embracing the spirit of the show’. 

The judges were way off with their guesses for the artist as they believed Kingfisher could be comedian Harry Hill or Joe Lycett.

The Masked Singer final airs Saturday 15 February at 7pm on ITV and ITVX.