Jonathan Ross blasted for Natalie Cole blunder on 'The Masked Singer'
Jonathan Ross came under fire from The Masked Singer viewers after guessing that the late Natalie Cole was underneath Daisy’s disguise.
The TV star is one of the judges on the ITV show, which sees celebrities singing with their identities disguised and the panel then trying to work out who they are.
After the contestant in a Daisy costume sang Unforgettable by Nat King Cole on Saturday, Ross suggested she might be his daughter Natalie Cole.
Read more: The Masked Singer viewers think Meghan Markle is Queen Bee
However, fans took to Twitter to point out that Cole died in 2015.
One posted: “Definitely not Natalie Cole @Wossy on account of her being dead.”
Definitely not Natalie Cole @wossy on account of her being dead. #MaskedSinger
— Lady Windsor Rose (@LadyWindsorRose) January 25, 2020
“Erm, Natalie Cole is dead, so if Daisy is her well that’s quite something,” said another.
Erm, Natalie Cole is dead, so if Daisy is her well that’s quite something. #MaskedSinger
— James Sharp (@JamesSharp87) January 25, 2020
“Massive balls up letting Jonathan Ross guess that Daisy is Natalie Cole,” one viewer tweeted.
“She only died 5 years ago.”
The user added the hashtag “#awkward”.
Massive balls up letting Jonathon Ross guess that Daisy is Natalie Cole. She only died 5 years ago #awkward #MaskedSinger
— Lisa Cooper (@lisalulabelle75) January 25, 2020
“Jonathan Ross should apologise about that Natalie Cole comment,” said another fan.
#MaskedSinger Jonathan Ross should apologise about that Natalie Cole comment.
— Georgia_DD (@GeorgiaBowring) January 25, 2020
“Poor taste to say it was Natalie Cole,” said another.
Poor taste to say it was Natalie Cole 👎🏻 She passed away in 2015! 🤦🏼♀️ #MaskedSinger
— Corinne Owen (@owen_corinne) January 25, 2020
An ITV spokesperson said: "This was a genuine mistake by the panel. We apologise if this caused any upset to viewers."
Daisy was later revealed to be US singer Kelis, who was the fifth celebrity to be unmasked.
Football star Teddy Sheringham was previously unveiled as Tree and Justin Hawkins from The Darkness was inside Chameleon.
Read more: Who are The Masked Singer celebrities?
EastEnders star Patsy Palmer was unveiled as the Butterfly and former Home Secretary Alan Johnson was the man masquerading as Pharaoh.
Natalie Cole died in 2015 at the age of 65, as the result of heart failure.