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Fans think they have worked out who Goldfish is on the new series of The Masked Singer(Image: ITV)

Fans of The Masked Singer think they have worked out who Goldfish is – before the series has even started. The hit ITV game show, which sees celebrities don extravagant costumes and go to great lengths to disguise their identities as they belt out classic pop songs, will be back on screens on Saturday 3 January.

In the first round of the competition, viewers will have to guess who is Goldfish as the mystery star fronts a music group billed as No Trout. Following that, it will be the turn of Emperor Penguin as they head up Antarctic Funkeys. But each contestant has already sent clues to the judging panel, made up of Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall and Maya Jama.

Goldfish asks Davina: “How did it feel to be top of the Christmas tree?” and then asks Jonathan: “They say goldfish have a three-second memory. We’ll be the Judge of that!” Mo receives: “54x4x10-166+8=X”, and Maya gets a text that says: “I heard you became an award-winning billionaire by swimming upstream!”

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The mystery star sends some very telling clues to the judges via text message(Image: ITV)

Fans were quick to make an attempt to decipher the clues and were convinced that the equation, which gives an answer of 2002, could be the biggest clue yet. 2002 is a pop track that was released in 2018, and references the period of time in which music icons like Britney Spears, Jay-Z and N*Sync ruled the charts.

Having accumulated almost two billion streams on Spotify, it is one of the biggest hits for British pop singer Anne-Marie, and now fans are sure that it is the former Voice judge hiding under the mask. One fan wrote on Reddit: “I’m pretty sure it’s Anne-Marie, based on the sum, Xmas no.1 and the judging clue,” and another said: “Me too that 2002 clue has just given it away.”

It’s also thought that the Christmas tree clue could be a nod to Rockabye, which became the festive number one when released by Anne-Marie and Clean Bandit in 2016. Previously, it was claimed that the new format with the bands was a way of keeping viewers guessing.

The Sun reported that a source said: “As The Masked Singer heads into series seven in the UK, bosses are keeping everyone on their toes by upping the ante on clues and throwing in even more unmaskings.

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All the clues appear to point to Goldfish being British singer Anne-Marie (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)

“The franchise’s first-ever bands are going to blow everyone’s minds – but viewers will be left scratching their heads as to whether the band is a big clue or not. “The celebrities hiding inside might run solo in their real lives, or they might be part of some sort of group, or could even be exactly what it says on the tin – an actual frontman or woman.

“Viewers are going to be more bamboozled than ever, but it’s going to be lots of fun.” Viewers can expect to see four unmaskings in the first two episodes. Goldfish and Emperor Penguin are extra celebrities on top of the 12-person lineup.

Last year, the programme was won by West End legend Samantha Barks, who had dressed up as Puffer Fish throughout the series’ run. Samantha, who found fame on the BBC’s I’d Do Anything alongside Coronation Street actress Jodie Prenger and then starred in the film adaptation of Les Misérables with Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne.

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Upon her victory, she said: “I feel like I’ve lived this double life because I’ve had these crazy experiences, but nobody in my life knows [about] this, so I’ve loved it!

“I’ve had the best time, I really have. Underneath the mask, it’s been hurting my cheeks because I’ve been smiling so hard! Thank you so much!”

Samantha, who is also known for having played the lead in the West End production of Disney’s Frozen, had fought off competition from celebrities like EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy, singer Macy Grey, and Celebrity Trators star Kate Garraway, amongst a host of others.