The Masked Dancer (British TV series)

For the most recent series, see The Masked Dancer (British series 2).

The Masked Dancer
Genre
Based onThe King of Mask Singer
by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
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
  • Iain Peckham
Production locationITV Studios Bovingdon
Camera setupMulti-camera
Production companyBandicoot
Original release
NetworkITV
Release29 May 2021 (2021-05-29) –
22 October 2022 (2022-10-22)
Related
The Masked Singer

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. In March 2024 it was officially announced by ITV that the show has been axed. [1]

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.[2] 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.[3][4] The show premiered on 29 May 2021,[5][6] consisting of 12 contestants competing through seven episodes, which were broadcast across eight nights throughout the following week.[7]

In December 2021, ITV commissioned a second series of eight episodes,[8] which premiered on 3 September 2022.[9] The second series was broadcast in weekly instalments.

Cancellation

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. Despite this, the show was fully cancelled in 2024.[10]

Cast

Panellists and host

Former series panellists and host
Jonathan Ross
Davina McCall
Oti Mabuse
Peter Crouch
Joel Dommett

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.[2]

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.[11][12]

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,[13] but served as a guest panelist on the sixth show.[14] 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.[15]

Series overview

Series overview
SeriesContestantsEpisodesOriginally airedWinnerRunner-upThird placeAverage viewers
(millions)
First airedLast aired
112729 May 2021 (2021-05-29)5 June 2021 (2021-06-05)Louis Smith
as "Carwash"		Bonnie Langford
as "Squirrel"		Howard Donald
as "Zip"		TBA
21283 September 2022 (2022-09-03)22 October 2022 (2022-10-22)Heather Morris
as "Scissors"		Adam Garcia
as "Onomatopoeia"		Bruno Tonioli
as "Pearly King"		TBA

References

  1. ^ "ITV show 'axed' after failing to compete with Strictly Come Dancing". 25 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "ITV commissions The Masked Dancer" (Press release). ITV. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021 – via ITV Press Centre.
  3. ^ Jake Kanter (4 March 2021). "ITV Orders The Masked Dancer Following The Success Of The Masked Singer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Britain's Got Talent Series 15 Postponed 'til 2022". ITV. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  5. ^ Josh Darvill (19 May 2021). "The Masked Dancer start date and first look revealed!". TellyMix. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  6. ^ Lauren Morris (18 May 2021). "The Masked Dancer release date: judges, contestants, clues and latest news". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. ^ Naman Ramachandran (4 March 2021). "ITV Unveils The Masked Dancer After Hit Show The Masked Singer". Variety. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  8. ^ Manori Ravindran (15 December 2021). "ITV Brings Back The Masked Dancer for Season 2". Variety. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  9. ^ Josh Darvill (24 August 2022). "The Masked Dancer 2022 start date revealed for series 2 on ITV!". TellyMix. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  10. ^ Patrick Cremona (14 February 2023). "The Masked Dancer hasn't been axed, ITV confirms". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  11. ^ Rose Hill (13 May 2021). "David Walliams joins Masked Dancer panel as show replaces Britain's Got Talent". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  12. ^ Josh Darvill (25 May 2021). "John Bishop, David Walliams and Holly Willoughby join The Masked Dancer as guest panellists". TellyMix. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Footballing legend Peter Crouch joins the panel for the brand-new series of The Masked Dancer" (Press release). ITV. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022 – via ITV Press Centre.
  14. ^ Jade, Kayleigh (8 October 2022). "The Masked Dancer first look at tonight's episode as one more celebrity is unmasked". Tellymix.co.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  15. ^ "The Masked Dancer: Episode 8". ITV.com/presscentre. ITV. Retrieved 28 October 2022.