The Masked Singer FINAL 2022: Natalie Imbruglia is revealed as Panda and crowned the WINNER

Natalie Imbruglia was crowned the winner of The Masked Singer 2022 on Saturday night after being revealed as Panda. 

The songstress, 47, beat Charlotte Church who was unmasked as Mushroom in second place and Westlife star Mark Feehily who was revealed to be Robobunny in third place.     

Natalie impressed judges Rita Ora, Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Joss Stone on the night when she sang Taylor Swift’s hit Blank Space, before performing a duet with comedian Jason Manford, who was Hedgehog in series one. 

Amazing! Natalie Imbruglia was crowned the winner of The Masked Singer 2022 on Saturday night after being revealed as Panda

This year’s final saw Panda, Mushroom and Robobunny battle it out to be crowned the 2022 champion after beating off competition from nine other quirky characters. 

Speaking after the unmasking she said: ‘I just loved being Panda! I stayed in an American accent the whole time to hide it! 

‘I really thought Rita and Davina would guess as they know me! I got to make friends with a Mushroom and Robobunny. It’s just been great.’ 

Yay! Natalie impressed judges Rita Ora , Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Joss Stone on the night when she sang Taylor Swift's hit Blank Space on the night

Yay! Natalie impressed judges Rita Ora , Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Joss Stone on the night when she sang Taylor Swift’s hit Blank Space on the night

Shock: Speaking after the unmasking she said: 'I just loved being Panda! I stayed in an American accent the whole time to hide it!'

Shock: Speaking after the unmasking she said: ‘I just loved being Panda! I stayed in an American accent the whole time to hide it!’

Reaction: 'I really thought Rita and Davina (pictured during the unveiling) would guess as they know me! I got to make friends with a Mushroom and Robobunny. It's just been great'

Reaction: ‘I really thought Rita and Davina (pictured during the unveiling) would guess as they know me! I got to make friends with a Mushroom and Robobunny. It’s just been great’

Thrilled: Natalie looked over the moon to have won the competition and fooled the judges with her identity for the whole series

Thrilled: Natalie looked over the moon to have won the competition and fooled the judges with her identity for the whole series

Robobunny kicked off the show with Run by Snow Patrol, with the judges heaping praise on the vocals and guessing it could be Ronan Keating or Charlie Simpson.  

Next up to perform was Panda who sang Taylor Swift’s hit Blank Space and Rita and Davina guessed afterwards that it could be High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens. 

Taking to the stage last was Mushroom who sang an opera song and wowed the judging panel. They guessed it could be Charlotte Church or Sheridan Smith. 

Huge star: Charlotte Church was unmasked as Mushroom in second place earlier in the night after wowing with her operatic voice

Huge star: Charlotte Church was unmasked as Mushroom in second place earlier in the night after wowing with her operatic voice 

There he is! Mark Feehily was unmasked as Robobunny during the final and ended up finishing the competition in third place

There he is! Mark Feehily was unmasked as Robobunny during the final and ended up finishing the competition in third place

Star: Robobunny kicked off the show with a emotional rendition of Run by Snow Patrol, with the judges heaping praise on the vocals and guessing it could be Ronan Keating or Charlie Simpson

Star: Robobunny kicked off the show with a emotional rendition of Run by Snow Patrol, with the judges heaping praise on the vocals and guessing it could be Ronan Keating or Charlie Simpson

Costume: Next up to perform was Panda who sang Taylor Swift's hit Blank Space and Rita and Davina guessed afterwards that it could be High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens

Costume: Next up to perform was Panda who sang Taylor Swift’s hit Blank Space and Rita and Davina guessed afterwards that it could be High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens

Quirky: Taking to the stage last was Mushroom who sang an opera song and wowed the judging panel. They guessed it could be Charlotte Church or Sheridan Smith

Quirky: Taking to the stage last was Mushroom who sang an opera song and wowed the judging panel. They guessed it could be Charlotte Church or Sheridan Smith

The trio also enlisted the help of former The Masked Singer stars as they performed show-stopping duets as well as their solo numbers.

The show saw the return of the first Masked Singer UK champion Nicola Roberts aka Queen Bee as she took to the stage to perform with Robobunny. They sang the iconic duet I Knew You Were Waiting for Me by Aretha Franklin and George Michael. 

Comedian Jason Manford, who was Hedgehog in series one, was back as he sang It Takes Two alongside Panda.

Contestants: This year's final saw Panda, Mushroom and Robobunny battle it out to be crowned the 2022 champion after beating off competition from nine other quirky characters

Contestants: This year’s final saw Panda, Mushroom and Robobunny battle it out to be crowned the 2022 champion after beating off competition from nine other quirky characters 

While series two’s Robin, aka Aston Merrygold, made an exciting comeback as he duetted with Mushroom. They say Rihanna’s dance hit We Found Love.

Meanwhile, also making a triumphant return was last year’s champion Joss Stone (Sausage), who this time swapped the stage for the judging panel as she joined Davina, Mo, Rita and Jonathan in trying to figure out the final three celebs.

The You Had Me hitmaker, 34, looked sensational in a sparkling silver jumpsuit as she joined in with the festivities of the show. 

All hail the Queen! The show saw the return of the first Masked Singer UK champion Nicola Roberts aka Queen Bee as she took to the stage to perform with Robobunny

All hail the Queen! The show saw the return of the first Masked Singer UK champion Nicola Roberts aka Queen Bee as she took to the stage to perform with Robobunny

What a duo: Robobunny and Queen Bee put on a very special performance

What a duo: Robobunny and Queen Bee put on a very special performance

Other guests featured during the third series included Dame Joan Collins and Olly Alexander.

Throughout this year’s series, the celebrity sleuths and viewers alike have been entertained by a plethora of dazzling performances, while being equally perplexed as they tried to guess who was behind the masks. 

The first casualty of this year’s contest was M People singer Heather Small, who was the first celebrity to be voted off after being unveiled as unveiled as Chandelier. 

Look who it is: Comedian Jason Manford, who was Hedgehog in series one, was back as he sang alongside Panda

Look who it is: Comedian Jason Manford, who was Hedgehog in series one, was back as he sang alongside Panda

Aaaw: Hedgehog and Panda shared a sweet moment on stage after their performance

Aaaw: Hedgehog and Panda shared a sweet moment on stage after their performance

He's back! While series two's Robin, aka Aston Merrygold, made an exciting comeback as he duetted with Mushroom

He’s back! While series two’s Robin, aka Aston Merrygold, made an exciting comeback as he duetted with Mushroom

Romances: Mushroom and Robin certainly knew how to entertain the crowd

Romances: Mushroom and Robin certainly knew how to entertain the crowd

Next out was Loose Women’s Gloria Hunniford, whose performance in her Snow Leopard costume failed to impress. 

The third star out was singer Will Young, who turned out to be Lionfish, while tennis legend Pat Cash became the fourth celebrity to be voted out after being unveiled as Bagpipes.

Next up was Keane frontman Tom Chaplin, who left the judged stumped when he was unmasked as poodle.  

Hello there! Meanwhile, also making a triumphant return was last year's champion Joss Stone (Sausage), who this time swapped the stage for the judging panel

Hello there! Meanwhile, also making a triumphant return was last year’s champion Joss Stone (Sausage), who this time swapped the stage for the judging panel

Dazzling display: The You Had Me hitmaker, 34, looked sensational in a sparkling silver jumpsuit as she joined in with the festivities of the show

Dazzling display: The You Had Me hitmaker, 34, looked sensational in a sparkling silver jumpsuit as she joined in with the festivities of the show

A pleasure: Other guests featured during the third series included Dame Joan Collins (pictured with Davina) and Olly Alexander

A pleasure: Other guests featured during the third series included Dame Joan Collins (pictured with Davina) and Olly Alexander

Week six saw a double elimination with Jaime Winstone and Michael Owen voted out in sixth and seventh place as Firework and Doughnuts respectively. 

Meanwhile week seven saw yet another double elimination with Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams being outed as Rockhopper and singer Aled Jones unveiled as Traffic Cone.  

And amid all the performances and eliminations, the final three contestants have managed to allude everyone by keeping their true identities hidden – until the the final show that is!

First out: Heather Small was the first celebrity to be unveiled after hiding in a chandelier costume

Out second: Snow Leopard was unmasked as the show's oldest ever contestant, Gloria Hunniford

First two out: Heather Small was the first celebrity to be unveiled after hiding in a chandelier costume, while Gloria Hunniford was unveiled as Snow Leopard

Number three: Will Young was the third celebrity to be eliminated from the nation's favourite guessing game last Saturday after being revealed as Lionfish

Number three: Will Young was the third celebrity to be eliminated from the nation’s favourite guessing game last Saturday after being revealed as Lionfish

Farewell: Pat Cash was the fourth out after failing to impress as bagpipes

Farewell: Pat Cash was the fourth out after failing to impress as bagpipes 

A whole host of wrong (or right!) guesses hadbeen thrown their way, with predictions for Panda’s true identity ranging from Amanda Holden, Cheryl and Alesha Dixon.

While fans and judges have tipped the likes of The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue, Vinny Jones and Danny Jones of McFly to be Robobunny.

With Charlotte Church, Sheridan Smith and Irish actress Aisling Bea being names associated with Mushroom. 

Fifth to go: Next up was Keane frontman Tom Chaplin, who left the judged stumped when he was unmasked as poodle

Fifth to go: Next up was Keane frontman Tom Chaplin, who left the judged stumped when he was unmasked as poodle

Take it off! Week six saw a double elimination with Jaime Winstone unmasked as Firework

Do-nut believe it: Michael Owen was revealed as Doughnuts

Take it off! Week six saw a double elimination with Jaime Winstone and Michael Owen voted out in sixth and seventh place as Firework and Doughnuts respectively

Who would've guessed! Meanwhile week seven saw yet another double elimination with Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams being outed as Rockhopper

Who would’ve guessed! Meanwhile week seven saw yet another double elimination with Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams being outed as Rockhopper

Leaving: While Aled Jones narrowly missed out on the final after being revealed as Traffic Cone

Leaving: While Aled Jones narrowly missed out on the final after being revealed as Traffic Cone

The reality show originated in South Korea and its success spawned similar shows across the world including the UK and the US.

The first UK series saw former Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts revealed as the voice behind Queen Bee and was crowned the winner.

While the most recent series saw Joss Stone soar to victory after successfully hiding her identity in a Sausage costume. 

Winner! Joss Stone was crowned the champion of The Masked Singer 2021, after she bamboozled the judges as Sausage

Success: She was so good, in fact, that panellists Jonathan, Davina, Mo and Rita failed to correctly guess her identity before she took off her mask

Winner! Joss Stone was crowned the champion of The Masked Singer 2021, after she bamboozled the judges as Sausage

2020 winner! Nicola Roberts won the 2020 series after she was revealed as Queen Bee and she returned as a guest judge on the 2021 final (pictured on show in 2020)

2020 winner! Nicola Roberts won the 2020 series after she was revealed as Queen Bee and she returned as a guest judge on the 2021 final (pictured on show in 2020) 

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