Rita Ora confirmed for The Masked Singer series 3 despite backlash over lockdown birthday bash

Rita Ora will be back for The Masked Singer season 3 despite huge backlash for throwing a 30^th birthday party during the second national lockdown.

The pop star was replaced by Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse for spin-off series The Masked Dance, which launched this weekend and saw Louise Redknapp and Jordan Banjo as the first two celebrities unmasked.

However, it was stressed her absence on the panel – alongside returning judges Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan, and Jonathan Ross – was due to work commitments filming The Voice Australia.

Now Derek McLean, who works alongside the producers of The Masked Singer franchise, has confirmed the Poison hitmaker will be back.

‘The key thing ­everyone just needs to understand is Rita was not available for The Masked Dancer ­because she was filming in Australia and the thing she does on The Masked Singer is be the voice expert,’ he told Daily Star.

‘She is the one everyone turns to and says, “Do you know who this is?”
and “Can you tell who that voice is?”’

Replacing Rita on The Masked Dancer, Oti said she was ‘thrilled and honoured’.

‘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!’

The Masked Singer returns to ITV later this year while The Masked Dancer continues tonight at 7.30pm.