The identity of The Masked Singer’s Bear may soon be revealed as stunning new data points to a star of the beloved detective show Vera.
Viewers have been speculating about the celebs hidden beneath a menagerie of new characters that debuted on the new series last weekend.
The Bear’s costume features a stereotypical Thespian getup, including suitably Shakesperian facial hair.
The other mysterious costumes featured in the new series are Bush, Dressed Crab, Pufferfish, and Toad In The Hole.
New judge Maya Jama, replacing Rita Ora, joins the panel of Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan with host Joel Dommett in their attempts to guess the contestants’ identities.
The Bear’s clues so far have included a horseshoe, coffee cup, several globes, and a “break a leg” sign.
ITV The Masked Singer: Who do you think is under the Bear mask?
ITV
The Bear has made referenced their time performing as a “cub” in London’s West End.
Even more tantalisingly, the Bear revealed their riddle: ”I’m walking the stage and displaying my toil, but I’m also at home amongst flowers and soil.”
Speculation around the Bear’s identity has swirled among Masked Singer fans.
Some have speculated the fuzzy thespian could be legendary Shakespearean actor Sir Ian McKellen, 85.
Gambling.com‘s Entertainment expert James Leyfieldgives McKellen 6/4 odds of being unmasked as the Bear.
However, the runaway favourite to be underneath the mask is Vera star Paul Kaye, 60.
Leyfield gives Kaye even odds of being beneath the Bear’s thespian digs.
Kaye played Dr Malcolm Donahue on the beloved ITV detective show starring Brenda Blethyn.
Vera came to an end over the festive period, with Blethyn thanking fans for their loyalty to the show.
Ted Lasso star Anthony Head, who has also appeared in a slew of British films and TV, was given second-best odds to be Bear with 11/10 odds, or a 47.6 percent chance.
Other names in contention are theatre and EastEnders star Brian Conley (3/1) and Brian Blessed (4/1), known for his booming voice.
