British television series
The Masked Dancer is a British reality dancing competition television series that premiered on ITV on 29 May 2021. It was based on the original programme, The King of Mask Singer. In December 2021, the show was recommissioned for a second series which aired September–October 2022.
Production
On 4 March 2021, it was announced that ITV were producing a local version of the American television dancing competition The Masked Dancer following the success of its sister show The Masked Singer.[1] The show is produced by the British television production company Bandicoot, part of the Argonon Group, the same company who produced The Masked Singer. The series was commissioned as a replacement in the spring schedule for Britain's Got Talent, which had its upcoming fifteenth series postponed until 2022 due to health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3] The show premiered on 29 May 2021,[4][5] consisting of 12 contestants competing through seven episodes, which were broadcast across eight nights throughout the following week.[6]
In December 2021, ITV commissioned a second series of eight episodes,[7] which premiered on 3 September 2022.[8] The second series was broadcast in weekly instalments.
On 14 February 2023, it was revealed that the show would not be returning in 2023, due to ITV's coverage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The following year it was announced it would not be returning at all. [9]
Cast
Panellists and host
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, and comedian Mo Gilligan, who are all panellists on The Masked Singer, along with Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse. It was also confirmed that Joel Dommett would host the show.[1]
Guest panellists in the first series included David Walliams in the fifth episode, John Bishop in the sixth episode, and Holly Willoughby in the seventh episode.[10][11]
On 3 May 2022, it was announced that footballer Peter Crouch would join the panel for the second series, with Ross, McCall, and Mabuse all returning. Series one panellist Gilligan was unable to return due to touring commitments,[12] but served as a guest panelist on the sixth show.[13] John Bishop returned as a guest panelist on the seventh show and sat in on the final for Ross, who was absent. Dawn French was also a guest on the panel for the final.[14]
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