Entertainment

What time is The Masked Dancer on tonight and how does the show work?

The Masked Dancer kicks off tonight, and we can hardly wait.

The reality competition series is a spin-off The Masked Singer, which recently wrapped up its second series, achieving 10.6 million viewers for this year’s grand final.

The Masked Dancer US began airing on Fox in December, and was considered a huge success – which played a part in why a UK version was commissioned.

If you’ve been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the UK counterpart, then you’ll be excited to know that tonight’s the night that the games begin.

But how will it work? And what time is it on at?

Here is everything you need to know about the show ahead of its broadcast.

Masked Dancer UK: Time and channel

The Masked Dancer starts tonight (Saturday, May 29) at 7pm on ITV.

The reality competition will fill the slot usually reserved for Britain’s Got Talent’s live shows, which would’ve been due to air this week had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic.

How does the Masked Dancer work?

Much like its US counterpart, The Masked Dancer will see 12 celebrities – all dressed in elaborate costumes to conceal their identity – take to the stage to show off their best dance moves.

Undated handout photo issued by ITV of Squirrel, one of the characters revealed for the upcoming series The Masked Dancer. Issue date: Friday May 7, 2021. PA Photo. The programme is a spin-off to hit series The Masked Singer, which has previously aired on ITV, and will see celebrity contestants perform routines while disguised in an extravagant costume with a panel trying to guess their identities. See PA story SHOWBIZ Dancer. Photo credit should read: ITV/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — The Squirrel is one of several competitors in The Masked Dancer – but who is behind the mask? (Picture: IT)

The judging panel will then have to guess their identities.

Who are the Masked Dancer panellists?

The panel for the show will consist of Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse, as well as The Masked Singer’s Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan.

Rita Ora – who was a regular judge on The Masked Singer – will not be joining her fellow judges on the new reality show, as she is reportedly too tied up with filming commitments for The Voice in Australia.

‘I’m so thrilled and honoured to be joining the panel on The Masked Dancer,’ said Oti.

‘I’m a huge fan of The Masked Singer and I loved the US Masked Dancer so I just can’t wait to start on this show.

‘As a dancer I will be watching the dancers intently looking for clues – it’s going to be so much fun!’

Jonathan said: ‘What people don’t know is that secretly I am an expert in dance and can spot a ball change from a box step no problem.

‘The title of best detective on the panel is most certainly coming my way!’

Mo, who took Ken Jeong’s seat on the latest Masked Singer series, said: ‘I love The Masked Singer. It’s a crazy bit of joy, which we all need right now – so when ITV asked if I wanted to join The Masked Dancer I, of course, said a huge yes!

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Thursday 24th December 2020 From Bandicoot TV The Masked Singer: SR2: Ep1 on ITV Pictured: Davina McCall. This photograph is (C) Bandicoot TV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: james.hilder@itv.com / 0207 157 3052 — Davina, who was a judge on sister series The Masked Singer, will return for The Masked Dancer (Picture: ITV)

‘I’m really looking forward to getting back with the team for another brilliant series.’

Davina said: ‘I love playing detective and I love dancing so what could be better?! I’m currently swotting up on all things dance in preparation and I will be watching those celebrity feet like a hawk,’ she said of the show.

‘They always have such an amazing cast on The Masked Singer so it could literally be anyone hiding and dancing behind those masks and that’s what makes it so exciting.’

Joel Dommett will host the series.

The Masked Dancer starts tonight at 7pm on ITV.

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The Masked Singer series 2: Who is behind each mask?

With the nation more or less confined to their living rooms every Saturday night, The Masked Singer has proven to be something of a lockdown 3.0 saviour.

While the performances are of course a draw, most of the fun lies in guessing just who is behind each mask.

Here is who was behind each mask: