The Masked Singer viewers shocked as fictional character unmasked in bizarre first for reality show

‘The most famous guest on The Masked Singer ever!’ judge Ken Jeong shouted

The Masked Singer fans in the US were surprised by the first “celebrity” contestant to be unmasked on the new series.

Producers had been teasing the fifth season of the popular contest as a “game changer” and viewers certainly saw why at the end of episode one.

It turns out that they signed up a fictional character to participate as a contestant – namely Kermit the Frog.

The beloved Muppet was the one underneath the Snail costume and performed Hall and Oates song “You Make My Dreams (Come True)”.

Speaking about his decision to be on the series, Kermit told Variety over email:“After years of being your average everyday talking frog, I thought it would be fun to be someone else.

Kermit the Frog was unmasked as Snail on The Masked Singer (Fox)

The chance to become a snail – with my own built-in mobile home – was too good to pass up… I didn’t last on the show very long. But I loved every minute of it.”

It’s believed that Matt Vogel, who has voiced the character since 2017, was the one who performed the track. His costume was built around a battery-operated mobile cart device that Vogel – as the Muppet – controlled.

READ MORE:Joss Stone wins Masked Singer as Sausage

While none of the show’s judges guessed Snail’s identity, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg did say the person was “pushing out the Kermit the Frog sound”. Other guesses ranged from Seth MacFarlane to Billy Crystal.

Viewers were extremely surprised to see Kermit unmasked as a contestant on the show.

The Masked Singer’s UK edition recently concluded its second series, which crowned Joss Stone as the winner.