ITV orders UK version of Masked Singer talent show

ITV has commissioned Scottish indie, Bandicoot (part of Argonon Group), to produce a new UK version of the Korean and US hit series The Masked Singer, which will air as a stripped event on the Network in 2020.

The Masked Singer started out as the Korean format The King of Mask Singer, the series was a big hit in Asia and US version was Fox’s most-watched unscripted debut in 11 years, and the most-watched unscripted debut on any network for 7 years.

Part guessing game and part singing show, this series will see 12 famous faces compete to pull off the best performance, with their identity elaborately concealed, thanks to a team of costume designers. The stars will be transformed and they will take on a masked identity and become a fantastic character which will disguise them for the whole series, even their speaking voices will be disguised in interviews.

A celebrity panel will lead viewers to discover who they are. The audience’s least favourite singer will be eliminated, before the panel try to guess their identity and unmask them.

The Masked Singer was commissioned by Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Director of Television and Siobhan Greene, ITV’s Head of Entertainment Commissioning. Derek McLean and Daniel Nettleton will executive produce alongside Claire Horton.
Siobhan Greene said: “Not very often, a show comes along that seems to abandon all the rules…. and this is it. The Masked Singer is original, bold, funny and a proper guessing game, that we hope will have the nation hooked. We all loved it from the moment we saw it and are so excited to be bringing it to a UK audience.”

Bandicoot founders, Derek McLean and Daniel Nettleton, added: “Bandicoot is delighted to be working with ITV to bring The Masked Singer to the UK. As a young Scottish indie, we are hugely excited to be part of such a successful global format. The Masked Singer combines the entertainment values of the most bonkers singing show imaginable with the guessing game and laughter of the best comedy panel show. With madcap costumes and cunning disguises, we have no doubt the audience will love the outlandish performances and revel in playing the guessing game. It’s less of a whodunnit and more of a whosungit!”