ITV confirms ‘Masked Singer’ to debut in 2020

ITV has confirmed that it is adapting hit Korean format The Masked Singer, as reported exclusively by TBI earlier this year. 

The format will be a stripped, eight-part event that will TX in 2020. Argonon Group-backed producer Bandicoot will produce after having optioned the format a number of years ago, as previously reported.

In the US, The Masked Singer launched to a multi-platform, consolidated audience of 17.6m, making it Fox’s most-watched unscripted debut in 11 years, and the most-watched unscripted debut on any network for seven years.

Much like the US show, the UK format will see 12 famous faces compete to pull off the best performance while keeping their identity elaborately concealed. The costumes will take inspiration from the worlds of manga, superheroes, wild animals and mythical creatures.

The Masked Singer was commissioned by Kevin Lygo, ITV’s director of television, and Siobhan Greene, ITV’s head of entertainment commissioning.

Bandicoot’s Derek McLean and Daniel Nettleton will exec produce alongside Claire Horton.

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 McLean and 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.”