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]

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 series2
No. of episodes15
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 showsMasked Singer franchise

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.[5][6]

On 25 January 2020, it was announced that the show would be returning for a second series.[7] On 30 April 2020, it was reported that they were considering filming the new series without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] It was later announced on 17 August 2020 that filming would begin on 14 September with safety precautions in place.[9] On 1 December 2020, it was announced that the second series will premiere on 26 December 2020, with a "The Story So Far" recap airing on 19 December.[10]

Cast

Panelists and host
Current series panelists and host
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 panelist 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.[11][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.[12] 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.[13][14] In episode six of the second series, comedian Alan Carr appeared as a guest panelist for the show's quarter final.[15] In episode seven, Matt Lucas appeared as a guest panelist.[16] Series 1 winner Nicola Roberts will be a guest panelist for the eighth episode.[17]

Cast timeline
Cast Seasons
1 2
Host
Joel Dommett Main
Panelists
Jonathan Ross Main
Davina McCall Main
Rita Ora Main
Ken Jeong Main Does not appear
Mo Gilligan Does not appear Main
Donny Osmond Guest Does not appear
Sharon Osbourne Guest Does not appear
Kelly Osbourne Guest Does not appear
Alan Carr Does not appear Guest
Matt Lucas Does not appear Guest
Nicola Roberts Does not appear Guest

Series overview
Series overview
SeriesCelebritiesEpisodesOriginally airedWinnerRunner-upThird place
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"
2826 December 2020 (2020-12-26)13 February 2021 (2021-02-13)TBATBATBA

ITV2 one-off special

On 26 April 2020, Dommett invited panelists 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 panelists 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".[18]

See also

References
  1. "SRO Audiences". Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  2. White, Peter (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. Alex, Susannah (8 September 2019). "ITV's The Masked Singer confirms complete all-star panel and host". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  4. Law, Angela (11 October 2019). "Rita Ora and Ken Jeong Are Joining the Judging Panel on The Masked Singer UK". PopSugar. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  5. "ITV commissions The Masked Singer – Bandicoot". Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  6. "ITV commissions The Masked Singer". Press Centre. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  7. Ed Gleave (25 January 2020). "Surprise hit The Masked Singer returning for second series after beating Doctor Who". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  8. Manori Ravindran (30 April 2020). "ITV Mulls 'Feasibility' of Love Island Amid Coronavirus, Competing With Netflix & Insurance Woes". Variety. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  9. 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.
  10. Josh Darvill (1 December 2020). "The Masked Singer UK series 2 start date confirmed as show returns this Christmas". TellyMix. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  11. "ITV announces host and panel for new ITV show The Masked Singer". ITV Press Centre. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  12. Laurie, Dan (9 January 2020). "Davina McCall teases The Masked Singer major judging panel shake-up". Daily Star. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  13. Justin Harp (19 August 2020). "The Masked Singer UK announces new judge as Ken Jeong takes break". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  14. Jake Kanter (19 August 2020). "Ken Jeong Drops Out Of The Masked Singer UK Amid Coronavirus Travel Restrictions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  15. 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.
  16. The Masked Singer UK [@MaskedSingerUK] (6 February 2021). "Welcome our DETECTIVE for the night @RealMattLucas 👏 #MaskedSingerUK" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 February 2021 – via Twitter.
  17. "Nicola Roberts to Return to "The Masked Singer" For Final".
  18. "When is The Masked Singer Unmasked on?". Radio Times. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
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