The Masked Singer UK 2024 returned as twelve mystery celebrities took to the stage wearing utterly bonkers costumes to disguise their identity.
The 12 brand-new outrageous characters looked crazier than ever, and one costume who bowled over the competition was Cricket.
Cricket came in third place — but did you guess who was under the mask? Here is who was hiding under Cricket's mask...
Who is Cricket in The Masked Singer UK 2024?
Cricket hopped all the way to third place and was unmasked as soul singer Lemar Obika.
Talking about his Masked Singer experience, Lemar shared: "I thought it was gonna be fun, but it's been more fun than I could've imagined.
"I'm a fan of the show anyway but just getting to express yourself on different songs that people maybe wouldn't expect, that's been a lot of fun."
Who is Cricket in The Masked Singer UK 2024? Songs...
Week one: Cricket sang "Place Your Hands" by Reef.
Week three: Cricket sang "Of the Night" by Bastille.
Week five: Cricket sang "How Deep Is Your Love" by Calvin Harris & Disciples.
Week six: Cricket sang “Antenna” by Fuse ODG.
Week seven: Cricket sang "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt.
Week eight: Cricket sang “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton and Cricket sang "Rewrite The Stars" from The Greatest Showman with Mushroom.
Sing-off performances:
Week seven: Cricket sang "As It Was" by Harry Styles.
Who is Cricket in The Masked Singer UK 2024? Show clues...
Week one clues:
Voiceover clue: "Hello there. Cricket's the name. Absolutely marvellous. And what a jolly good day for Cricket it is, too. I'm sure that you can spot that I'm a top cricketer, the best in the village. Crikey I don't want to sound all pompous, but my scores aren't just all about cricket. On the contrary, after some ins and outs...I became a rather big hitter. It's fantastic to be invited to play for you all this evening. I'm going to make it a jolly good knees up."
Riddle Me This clue: "I hope my performance was bowling you over, like when I got dizzy while perched on a sofa."
Item clues:
- Gold dust
- Cricket numbers - total of 60
- Cricket gazette - "Best cricket pair of 2024" Bow Tuffers and Moe Wiggo
Week three clues:
Voiceover clue: "After last week's performance, I'm feeling completely bowled over. If you ask me the entire panel are all out. I may be coming across all airs and graces, but one could say I have a bit of a reputation. I've always had potential. Different from the team pursuit. I don't want to take you on a ride but competing you Knowles it allowed my talent to grow. The competition has been rather thrilling. hasn't it? Let's hope tonight's performance isn't a duck."
Truth or Custard Pies clue:
1. "The one circus show I'd improve is fire breathing." (Custard Pies)
2. "I was last seen at the big top with my friend big mouse." (Truth)
Item clues:
- Sandwich platter with a sign reading "5 different fillings"
- Doctor's coat with a prescription in the pocket and badge saying TDF
- Cricketer of the week flyer with "Cricket for scoring his winning century!"
Week five clues:
Voiceover clue: "Last week was super fun. The panel played a jolly good game with their guesses. But they are no masterminds. Hello there. Marvellous. One has had a few marks on the board. And jolly good innings. Whoops! I was in a league of my own. It was my calling. I went from playing the village green to playing arenas and winning awards. You must be going around in circles guessing. It's rather fun confusing you, I must confess. And tonight, a marvellous opportunity to have a jolly good bash."
Clue song: "How Deep Is Your Love" by Calvin Harris & Disciples
Item clues:
- Cricket ball smashing the screen
- Junior Winner: S.W.Ebbe
- Next match: Haringey vs Herne Hill sign
- Microphone
- Note reading "To Cricket Love from MB xx"
Week six clues:
Voiceover clue: "Last week, jolly good! The panel's comments - wow! Huh, huh, huh?! Golly. What a competition. Everyone's being such jolly good sports. What a great line-up of talent. Very competitive. The way I like it. Don't go cricket-green with envy, but I've had success in my field. I've made a splash, that's for sure. Anyway, I'm really growing in this competition. Time to hit the stage. Let me clear my throat."
See It, Say It clue: Mo Gilligan, bow, hospital ward (MOBO Award)
Item clues:
- Alarm clock ringing at 8 o'clock
- Kit box with a note saying "Academy team kit. Please take one helmet. Do not take two."
- Energy drink best before 2002
Week seven clues:
Voiceover clue: "What an innings it has been. Making jolly good runs and still not out. Jolly good. I've not been ushered here, it's been my destiny since I was a child. But its' not been an easy cruise. It could break your heart, but there is justice, with everyone banding together. I've had success. I've hit the stumps seven times before. So I'm not looking to be runner-up. I's time to bowl out the competition."
Truth Juice clue: "I'm a BRIT Award winner."
Item clues:
- Telephone
- On the phone: "Hey Cricket, just called to say you made that win look easy."
- Red wig
- Trophies
Week eight clues:
Voiceover clue: "Bravo. I'm still in bat. The panel have made their pitch. Let's hope they won't catch me out. But now it's the finals. 'I'm dedicated.' Do you think I can go all the way? 'Or will I artfully dodge it?' You'll be obliged to know I've mixed with hip-hop royalty. The excitement of the competition, it takes me back 20 years or more. Don't give up. Time to win...before the curtain falls."
Bedtime story clue: David Tennant reads, "Hello, panel. My name's David. Welcome to Bedtime Stories. Let's begin. Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived Cricket. He loved playing cricket, but deep down, he had a dream - to sing with his idols, the famous Caterpillar's Child. One sunny day, while practising his cricket skills, he heard a beautiful melody floating through the air. Curiosity sparked within him, and he followed the sound. To his amazement, he found Caterpillar's Child rehearsing for a big concert. Cricket's heart raced with excitement. He plucked up the courage to approach them and share his dream of performing with them. They invited him to join them on stage for their concert that very evening. Cricket couldn't believe his luck. He had fulfilled his destiny. The end."
Item clues:
- Two notes reading "Batting Order Option 1 From Grant and Phil" and "Batting Order Option 2 From Grant and Grant"
- Basket of cricket balls with "All Accounted For" label
- Usher soundtrack
Who is Cricket in The Masked Singer UK 2024? Guesses...
Mo Gilligan guessed Levi Roots, Davina McCall suggested Jay Blades, Charlie Simpson went with Stuart Broad and Jonathan Ross said David Gower.
Week three guesses:
Mo Gilligan said Levi Roots and Mr Motivator, Davina McCall guessed Marvin Humes, Olly Murs suggested Lemar and Jonathan Ross went with Lemar too.
Week five guesses:
Rita Ora and Ellie Goulding both suggested Lemar, Jonathan Ross said Mary Berry, Mo Gilligan guessed Seal and Davina McCall mentioned Simon Webbe.
Week six guesses:
Lenny Henry said Tom Hanks, Mo Gilligan guessed Taio Cruz, Rita Ora suggested Lamar, Jonathan Ross mentioned Seal and Davina McCall went for Gregory Porter.
Week seven guesses:
Rita Ora and Mo Gilligan guessed Lemar, Davina McCall said Simon Webbe, Lorraine Kelly suggested Craig David and Jonathan Ross thought of Tom Cruise.
Final guesses:
All of the judges guessed Lemar.
Who is Cricket in The Masked Singer UK 2024? First clue...
For the first time in Masked Singer history, we heard from each of the characters ahead of the show's launch. Were there any cryptic clues hidden within their opening statements?
Cricket's first clue was: "I like the fun content of The Masked Singer, I could be creative!" and their description was: "Ready to bowl you over."
Cricket's first clue was similar to Bubble Tea's, where they both talked about having the freedom to be creative in The Masked Singer. Could the celebrity have a more serious profession and want to bowl us over with their secret talent of singing and dancing?
After the unmasking, we were completely wrong with this guess as Lemar is a professional singer so getting up on stage is well within his comfort zone.
Who is Cricket in The Masked Singer UK 2024? Costume clues...
Cricket is a green cricket wearing cricket attire. He has a green chest plate, white arm pads, gloves, and knee pads, along with green trainers and a cricket helmet.
It was an obvious guess, but we thought of the possibility that the celebrity could be a former cricket star. England cricket legend Stuart Broad announced that he was retiring from the sport...but we couldn't see him swapping his cricket whites for a literal cricket costume!
Although this wouldn't have been the first time a sporting legend went on the show, with football icon Michael Owen being unmasked as Doughnuts in The Masked Singer UK 2022. So maybe Stuart could have surprised us?
If we were going with the cricket theme, Phil Tufnell is no stranger to reality TV having competed in Strictly Come Dancing and I'm A Celebrity. Could this have been another show to tick off his list?
We were way off with these guesses though as Cricket turned out to not be a sports star. Although it seems he was an avid cricket player!
All episodes of The Masked Singer UK 2024 are available to watch on ITVX.
