The Masked Singer Gets U.K. Treatment

ITV has commissioned a U.K. version of the hit format The Masked Singer, which will air as a stripped event on the network in 2020.

Originally gaining global acclaim as the Korean format The King of Mask Singer, the series was a big hit in Asia. It launched in the U.S. on FOX to a multiplatform consolidated audience of 17.6 million, making it the network’s most-watched unscripted debut in 11 years and the most-watched unscripted debut on any network for seven years.

The Scottish indie Bandicoot is on board to bring the U.K. version to ITV, which will air it in eight parts across consecutive nights.

Siobhan Greene, ITV’s head of entertainment commissioning, 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 U.K. audience.”

Bandicoot Founders Derek McLean and Daniel Nettleton added: “Bandicoot is delighted to be working with ITV to bring The Masked Singer to the U.K. 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!”