BAFTA award winning The Masked Singer is back but this time with a new panel…
Following tonight’s Christmas special that saw singer Holly Johnson, disguised as a nutcracker, win the show with also usual judge Davina McCall taking part as a festive star, ITV have shared more details about the forthcoming series next year.
Davina McCall:
“It was one of the greatest experiences of my life so far. It was unbelievably fun. I learnt such an enormous amount and now massively, even more than I already did, respect the people who take part in the series because it’s eight shows, that’s a lot of songs to learn.
“Firstly keeping a secret from my kids all summer, twice Holly and Chester asked me why I was singing Christmas songs. Also from the panel, Maya asked me if I could sing and I said, ‘absolutely not, I’d never do this show.’ Harriet Rose asked me whilst filming The Aftermask, our spin off show, would I ever do the show and I said no! The ruse has been quite funny because in my head I’d be thinking someday you’ll all see.
“Then texting the bosses at eight o’clock who were obviously in on it but I had to text them and to tell them I had to miss the recording of the Christmas special. They had to text the whole production team and tell them. I know this is all going on in the building next door, but there I am sitting in a please Don’t Speak To Me t-shirt with a balaclava on. It was just the maddest ruse I have ever done. I didn’t expect to enjoy the whole process of singing as much as I did. I’ve booked a singing lesson for after the recording of the show and I’m going to carry on singing. Just for myself, not to sing anywhere or do anything but just because I loved it!”
Broadcaster and entrepreneur Maya Jama will be joining the panel for the The Masked Singer which returns to ITV1 and STV in January. Following another successful stint hosting the ultimate love game – the award-winning Love Island – Maya is now set to play the ultimate guessing game alongside Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan who all resume their celebrity detective roles.
“I’m not exaggerating, This Christmas is the best show we’ve ever made in all of the five series we’ve done so far! It’s packed full of surprises. I felt like I was in a boxing match, there was so much going on! It was so exciting! I absolutely did not know it was Davina. She lied to me right to my face. She texted me and said that she had severe diarrhoea but she did not, in fact she was in a costume. Livid! I’ll never trust her again!” – Joel Dommett
The affable Joel Dommett returns as host, as the hit BAFTA award winning series that continues to grip the nation returns for its sixth series. Since bursting onto TV screens in 2020, ‘guess who is singing in disguise’ format has reached a staggering 37 million viewers who have tuned in to guess who is hiding behind the mask.
A fresh batch of famous faces will don a line-up of extraordinary and elaborate costumes, in a bid to disguise their identities, as they sing in front of a studio audience and our celebrity judging panel. This year’s cast follow in the footsteps of an array of superstars including Dionne Warwick, NeYo, Richie Sambora, Michael Owen, Daisy May Cooper, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sue Perkins, Glenn Hoddle, Pat Cash, Lorraine Kelly, Jason Manford, Jake Shears, Sir Lenny Henry, Joss Stone to name a few.
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders joined the guessing panel in the festive offering.
“Loads of fun for your Boxing Day. It’s just such a great show and I love that it’s now part of some peoples’ traditions. Families have their meal and sit down and watch The Masked Singer, it’s lovely. It’s joyous and it’s for all the family. French and Saunders are on the show which is really special because they haven’t done anything together for quite a while. Just seeing them together is just a mad thing, so much of my childhood just watching them.” – host Joel Dommett speaking before the broadcast