Singer Mica Paris was unmasked as Toastie on Saturday’s finale of ITV’s The Masked Singer, prompting a wave of criticism from viewers who expressed disappointment at her elimination before the final two.
The seventh series of the popular singing competition concluded with Keisha Buchanan, performing as Moth, taking the crown, and Ben Shephard, revealed as Conkers, as the runner-up. Paris, known for hits such as “My One Temptation” and “Where Is the Love,” delivered a rendition of “A Star is Born” before being voted out.
Social media quickly filled with reactions from viewers who felt Paris’s talent deserved a place in the final showdown. One user posted, “Ludicrous decision should have been Toastie vs Moth in the final. Imagine not putting Mica Paris into the final for the sake of some bloke dressed like a Conker who can’t f****** sing.” Another wrote, “Bonkers that Conkers beat Toastie! #TheMaskedSinger.”
The judging panel, consisting of Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan, and Maya Jama, had offered their final guesses before Paris revealed her identity. The decision to eliminate Paris sparked debate over the judges’ assessment of the performances and the overall fairness of the competition.
Mica Paris, born Michelle Antoinette Wallen in 1969, began her career singing in her grandparents’ church and later as a backing vocalist for the band Hollywood Beyond, according to biographical information. She released her debut album, So Quality, in 1988, achieving platinum sales. She has released seven further albums, including Contribution (1990) and Gospel (2020), and appeared as Ellie Nixon in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 2020.
Throughout the series, Conkers had performed tracks including “Nice to Meet You” by Myles Smith, “Jump Around” by House of Pain, and One Direction’s “History.” Other celebrities unmasked during the season included Alex Jones as Disc Jockey, Professor Green as Teabag, John Lydon as Yak, Marcella Detroit as Gargoyle, Kate Nash and Anton Du Beke as Monkey Business and Arctic Fox respectively, and Harry Hill as Red Panda. Ben Fogle was revealed as Sloth, and Marvin Humes as Can of Worms, prior to the finale.
