Busted's Charlie Simpson won The Masked Singer on Saturday night after going up against Ricky Wilson of the Kaiser Chiefs and All Saints' Natalie Appleton in the final. Fans of the series had proved very astute at identifying the three finalists long before their masks were removed but it was a three-word clue that proved Rhino's identity beyond all doubt.
Many fans had guessed that Never Ever singer Natalie was behind the Fawn mask, though many also thought it was one of her three All Saints bandmates. And viewers were split on Rhino too, with two names mentioned again and again. While many correctly guessed it was Simpson, there were a lot convinced it was former X Factor singer James Arthur.
But it was a three-word clue that proved beyond doubt for many that Charlie was Rhino even before he took his mask off. As soon as Rhino opened his mouth to perform a cover of Chasing Cars at the start of the new series, fans of Busted were sure they could hear Charlie's voice, Chronicle Live reports. While there had been plenty of talk that Rhino could have been James Arthur, a growing number of clues pointed in Charlie's direction, including nods to Busted tracks Crashed The Wedding and Year 3000 and a nod to the band's Ticket for Everyone tour.
Rhino was one of three acts left standing in The Masked Singer series four final, alongside Fawn and Ricky Wilson's Phoenix and made an early bid for victory with a performance of Lewis Capaldi's Before You Go. But it was what came in the VT before Rhino took to the stage that exposed Charlie in a very obvious manner.
Rhino was heard mentioning the guess that he could be James Arthur, before adding 'but you said no' and You Said No was a song that Busted took to the top of the charts in 2003. And then, if that didn't give the game away, there was also an appearance of a black and red school tie, the same colour as the ones worn by Busted in their What I Go To School For video.
Having already guessed at Charlie last week, the clues, together with a sum on a board adding up to 3000, reaffirmed Davina McCall and Rita Ora's predictions that Rhino was Charlie, an opinion shared by plenty of viewers at home.
One viewer, James Stevenson, said: "Charlie’s voice sounds so good on this track. A release would be much appreciated."
Jack Miller said: "Even if he doesn’t win, I’m so proud of Charlie Simpson. What a legend."
Miss D said: "I will flip out if Rhino isn’t Charlie Simpson I know that voice and I’m fully convinced."
