Who is Tomato Sauce on The Masked Dancer 2022? Clues, theories and celeb guesses

Davina McCall, Oti Mabuse, Jonathan Ross and Peter Crouch did their best to work out who the dancer might be with the help of a handful of clues, but sleuths on social media had some very different ideas about who’s behind the mask, suggesting the likes of TV presenter Steph McGovern and Love Island legend Maura Higgins as potential contenders.

So far, four celebrities from The Masked Dancer 2022 line-up have been unmasked: Astronaut was revealed to be Desperate Housewives actor Jesse Metcalfe, Pig turned out to be Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page, Prawn Cocktail was unmasked as documentarian and former Strictly Come Dancing champion Stacey Dooley, and underneath the Cactus costume was BAFTA-winning choirmaster Gareth Malone.

As Tomato Sauce returns to the spotlight, here are all the pointers we have so far about their true identity.

Who is Tomato Sauce on The Masked Dancer UK?

Dances, songs, clues and guesses

Songs:

• Episode 2 – C'est La Vie by B*Witched
• Episode 4 - Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo

Clues:

• "Putting the sauce into saucy – quite literally."
• Signs in VT that indicate being on air.
• Tomato Sauce is "always at the heart of the table, where people ketchup with one another".
• "I had a stomach churning moment in a famous house."
• Tomato Sauce is "a good sauce that can be paired with anything".
• "Have a squeeze, I won't judge what you put it on."
• Experienced with Irish dancing.
• A board saying 'Scoop of the day' instead of 'soup'.

Guesses:

• Rachel Riley
• Sara Cox
• Clodagh McKenna
• Nigella Lawson
• Kirstie Allsopp
• Steph McGovern

The Masked Dancer theories

Is Tomato Sauce Steph McGovern?

After judge Oti Mabuse suggested that TV presenter Steph McGovern could be hiding behind that bright red outfit, it’s a theory that’s had strong support on social media. Tomato Sauce performed an Irish dancing-inspired routine to B*Witched’s C’est La Vie, and Twitter users quickly pointed out that the host of Steph’s Packed Lunch is a former Irish dancing champion who has previously showed off her impressive skills on TV.

Many fans expressed their suspicions on Twitter, one even saying that Tomato Sauce was "definitely" Steph McGovern.

Another added: Tomato Sauce is definitely Steph McGovern. She did Irish dancing on TV in recent years. It can't be anyone else."

The references to being “on air” in the clue package could be another nod to former BBC Breakfast business reporter McGovern’s career, while the “stomach churning moment” could refer to the time she “threw up” in the toilets of 10 Downing Street after partying with the likes of Kylie Minogue and radio presenter Chris Evans.

Is Tomato Sauce Cat Deeley?

Elsewhere, fans were also convinced that Tomato Sauce could be Cat Deeley.

After dancing to C’est La Vie, viewers pointed out that Deeley is married to Northern Irish comedian and TV personality Patrick Kielty.

One Twitter user pondered: "So I've ended up watching #MaskedDancerUK - could Tomato Sauce be Cat Deeley?"

Another added: "Heard it here first - tomato sauce is Cat Deeley."

Like McGovern, the references to being "on air" point at Deeley's successful career as a television presenter.

Who is in The Masked Dancer 2022 UK line-up?

There are 12 contestants in this year's line-up – below is a full list:

• Onomatopoeia
• Tomato Sauce
• Sea Slug
• Scissors
• Cactus
• Astronaut
• Pillar and Post
• Candlestick
• Pearly King
• Pig
• Prawn Cocktail
• Odd Socks

The Masked Dancer airs on ITV on Saturdays. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight.

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