The Masked Singer (British TV series)

The Masked Singer is a British reality singing competition television series based on the Masked Singer franchise which originated from the South Korean version of the show King of Mask Singer. It premiered on ITV on 4 January 2020.[2][3][4] In February 2022, the show was recommissioned for a fourth and fifth series.

For most recent series, see The Masked Singer (British series 3).

The Masked Singer
Genre
Based on
Directed bySimon Staffurth
Creative directorBeth Honan
Presented byJoel Dommett
Starring
Theme music composer
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producers
  • Claire Horton
  • Derek McLean
  • Daniel Nettleton
ProducerMarc Bassett
Production locationITV Studios Bovingdon[1]
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time90 mins (inc. adverts)
Production companyBandicoot
DistributorArgonon
Release
Original networkITV
Original release4 January 2020 (2020-01-04) –
present
Chronology
Related showsThe Masked Dancer

The show won an International Emmy for Best Non-Scripted Entertainment in 2021.[5]

Production

On 31 May 2019, it was announced that ITV was producing a local version of the South Korean television singing competition King of Mask Singer, originally broadcast by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, for the British television market.[2] The production is made by British television production company Bandicoot, part of the Argonon Group.[6][7]

On 25 January 2020, it was announced that the show would be returning for a second series.[8] On 30 April 2020, it was reported that they were considering filming the new series without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] It was later announced on 17 August 2020 that filming would begin on 14 September with safety precautions in place.[10] On 1 December 2020, it was announced that the second series would premiere on 26 December 2020, with a "The Story So Far" recap airing on 19 December.[11]

On 14 February 2022, following the conclusion of the third series, ITV announced the commission of a fourth and fifth series.[12][13]

Cast

Panellists and host
Current series panellists
Mo Gilligan
Davina McCall
Rita Ora
Jonathan Ross

Following the announcement of the series, it was confirmed by ITV that the panel would consist of presenter and comedian Jonathan Ross, television presenter Davina McCall, US actor and comedian Ken Jeong (who is also a panellist on the American version of the programme), and singer-songwriter and actress Rita Ora. It was also confirmed that Joel Dommett would host the show.[14][3]

In episode five of the first series, Donny Osmond, who appeared as Peacock in the first American series, took Jeong's place on the panel.[15] In episode six, Sharon Osbourne and daughter Kelly Osbourne, the latter of whom appeared as Ladybug in the second American series, filled in.

On 19 August 2020, it was announced that British comedian Mo Gilligan would replace Ken Jeong on the panel for series two, due to travel restrictions from COVID-19 preventing his participation.[16][17] In episode six of the second series, comedian Alan Carr appeared as a guest panellist for the show's quarter final.[18] In episode seven, Matt Lucas appeared as a guest panellist.[19] Series one winner Nicola Roberts appeared as a guest panellist for the eighth episode.[20]

Series overview
Series overview
SeriesCelebritiesEpisodesOriginally airedWinnerRunner-upThird placeAverage viewers
(millions)
First airedLast aired
11284 January 2020 (2020-01-04)15 February 2020 (2020-02-15)Nicola Roberts
as "Queen Bee"		Jason Manford
as "Hedgehog"		Katherine Jenkins
as "Octopus"		6.47
212826 December 2020 (2020-12-26)13 February 2021 (2021-02-13)Joss Stone
as "Sausage"		Ne-Yo
as "Badger"		Aston Merrygold
as "Robin"		7.64
31281 January 2022 (2022-01-01)12 February 2022 (2022-02-12)Natalie Imbruglia
as "Panda"		Charlotte Church
as "Mushroom"		Mark Feehily
as "Robobunny"		6.07

ITV2 one-off special

On 26 April 2020, Dommett invited panellists McCall and Ross to appear on his show, Home Alone with Joel Dommett, on ITV2 to take part in a one-off special of The Masked Singer. With COVID-19 spreading and residents of the United Kingdom under lockdown, Dommett had to conference call the panellists where they had to guess the identities of three masked celebrities. McCall and Ross were tasked with not only guessing their identities, but also deciding on an overall 'winner' and 'runner-up'.

The celebrities' performances were pre-recorded and consisted of them singing, followed by a hint to their identity, before their reveal at the end of the segment. Rather than the typical costumes and masks that contestants usually wear on the show, the recordings were edited to hide each singer's face with a specific image.

Performances on Home Alone with Joel Dommett
# Stage name Song Identity Result
1 Teddy Bear "Sex Bomb" by Tom Jones Ore Oduba RUNNER-UP
2 Smiley Face "Sweat (A La La La La Long)" by Inner Circle James Argent THIRD
3 Robot "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears Chesney Hawkes WINNER

The Masked Singer: Unmasked

The Masked Singer: Unmasked is the companion show presented by Capital Xtra's Will Njobvu. It is shown on the ITV Hub straight after the main show and is later aired on ITV2 the following Saturday. The show features interviews from the judges and the unmasked celebrity from that episode. It takes us behind the scenes to see what actually goes on at the "most secretive show on TV".[21]

The Masked Dancer
Main article: The Masked Dancer (British TV series)

On 4 March 2021, it was announced that ITV commissioned a dancing spinoff series that shares the same name of the American version. The series had 12 contestants competing through seven episodes, and was hosted by Dommett, with Ross, Gilligan, McCall, and Oti Mabuse serving as panellists.[22] It premiered on 29 May 2021,[23][24] filling in the late spring 2021 slot of Britain's Got Talent,[25] which had its upcoming series 15 postponed until 2022 due to health and safety concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.[26]

The Masked Singer Live

A live arena tour of the show began during the 2022 Easter holidays, travelling across the UK. The tour comprises of two touring judges, Denise van Outen (who appeared as "Fox" in series one) and Aston Merrygold (who appeared as "Robin" in series two), with a guest judge at each location. Panda, Dragon, Unicorn, Badger and Traffic Cone star on the tour with two new characters: Space Pug and Baby Dino, who are unmasked at every performance.

Venue[27] Date[27] Venue Judge[28] Space Pug Baby Dino
LIVERPOOL, M&S BANK ARENA 2 April 2022 Samia Longchambon Simon Gregson Sinitta
LONDON’S O2 ARENA 3 April 2022 Jonathan Ross Bill Bailey Maisie Smith
BIRMINGHAM, UTILITA ARENA 5 April 2022 Mo Gilligan Lee Latchford-Evans Claire Sweeney
NEWCASTLE, UTILITA ARENA 8 April 2022 Scarlett Moffatt Ranj Singh Jenny Ryan
GLASGOW, OVO HYDRO 9 April 2022 Sanjeev Kohli Ranj Singh Sinitta
MANCHESTER, AO ARENA 10 April 2022 Nicola Roberts Lee Latchford-Evans Jacqueline Jossa
LEEDS, FIRST DIRECT ARENA 13 April 2022 Nicola Roberts Duncan James Jenny Ryan
SHEFFIELD, UTILITA ARENA 15 April 2022 Martine McCutcheon Lee Latchford-Evans Claire Sweeney
NOTTINGHAM, MOTORPOINT ARENA 16 April 2022 Natalie Imbruglia Ranj Singh Maisie Smith
WEMBLEY, OVO ARENA 18 April 2022 Davina McCall Duncan James Jacqueline Jossa

See also

References
  1. "SRO Audiences". Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  2. Peter White (31 May 2019). "ITV Orders UK Version Of Hit Reality Series The Masked Singer From Argonon's Bandicoot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  3. Susannah Alexander (8 September 2019). "The Masked Singer confirms its complete all-star panel and reveals its new host". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  4. Angela Law (11 October 2019). "Rita Ora and Ken Jeong Are Joining the Judging Panel on The Masked Singer UK". PopSugar. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  5. William Earl (22 November 2021). "The Masked Singer, Call My Agent, Tehran Among International Emmy Award Winners". Variety. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  6. "ITV commissions The Masked Singer – Bandicoot". Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  7. "ITV commissions The Masked Singer". Press Centre. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  8. Ed Gleave (25 January 2020). "Surprise hit The Masked Singer returning for second series after beating Doctor Who". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  9. Manori Ravindran (30 April 2020). "ITV Mulls 'Feasibility' of Love Island Amid Coronavirus, Competing With Netflix & Insurance Woes". Variety. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  10. Jake Kanter (17 August 2020). "The Masked Singer UK To Be Filmed In Front Of Live Studio Audience Next Month". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  11. Josh Darvill (1 December 2020). "The Masked Singer UK series 2 start date confirmed as show returns this Christmas". TellyMix. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  12. Max Goldbart (14 February 2022). "Masked Singer UK Recommissioned For Two More Series By ITV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  13. Naman Ramachandran (14 February 2022). "The Masked Singer U.K. Commissioned for Two More Seasons at ITV". Variety. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  14. "ITV announces host and panel for new ITV show The Masked Singer". ITV Press Centre. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  15. Laurie, Dan (9 January 2020). "Davina McCall teases The Masked Singer major judging panel shake-up". Daily Star. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  16. Justin Harp (19 August 2020). "The Masked Singer UK announces new judge as Ken Jeong takes break". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  17. Jake Kanter (19 August 2020). "Ken Jeong Drops Out Of The Masked Singer UK Amid Coronavirus Travel Restrictions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  18. Dan Seddon (30 January 2021). "The Masked Singer UK fans call for guest-judge Alan Carr to join the panel full-time". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  19. The Masked Singer UK [@MaskedSingerUK] (6 February 2021). "Welcome our DETECTIVE for the night @RealMattLucas 👏 #MaskedSingerUK" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 February 2021 – via Twitter.
  20. Annaleigh Rose Clarke (13 February 2021). "Nicola Roberts returns to The Masked Singer as guest judge for the final". TellyMix. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  21. Joe Julians (14 December 2020). "When is The Masked Singer Unmasked on?". Radio Times. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  22. Naman Ramachandran (4 March 2021). "ITV Unveils The Masked Dancer After Hit Show The Masked Singer". Variety. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  23. Josh Darvill (19 May 2021). "The Masked Dancer start date and first look revealed!". TellyMix. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  24. Lauren Morris (18 May 2021). "The Masked Dancer release date: judges, contestants, clues and latest news". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  25. Jake Kanter (4 March 2021). "ITV Orders The Masked Dancer Following The Success Of The Masked Singer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  26. "Britain's Got Talent Series 15 Postponed 'til 2022". ITV. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  27. "Tour Dates – The Masked Singer Live". themaskedsingerliveuk.com. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  28. "Cast – The Masked Singer Live". themaskedsingerliveuk.com. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
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