The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett says show has ‘changed the landscape of Saturday night TV’

Season 3 is on the way! (Picture: ITV)

Joel Dommett reckons The Masked Singer has had such an impact, that it’s ‘changed the landscape of Saturday night TV.’

The host of the ITV talent show – whose latest season was won by singer
Joss Stone, disguised as Sausage – believes the series has revolutionised TV forever, as the programme gears up for a return on New Year’s Day.

Singing the show’s praises, the 36-year-old stand-up comic said: ‘It’s not just a success, it’s a cultural reference, which I think is the dream – to become a show everyone talks about.

‘I think it’s changed the landscape of Saturday night TV.’

Davina McCall – a judge on the star-studded singing show alongside Rita
Ora, Jonathan Ross and Mo Gilligan – also has nothing but love for the programme.

The former Big Brother host believes The Masked Singer is about fun more than snagging victory, insisting it is ‘not a talent contest.’

She said: ‘The nice thing about having a guessing show is that it’s not a talent contest.

A talent contest has disappointment and upset, whereas with our show, an unmasking is a celebration. It’s just the most exciting thing ever. It’s so funny.’

Funny man Joel agreed, insisting the prize is being ‘a part of something brilliant.’

The judges have got their guessing hats on! (Picture: ITV)

He explained that the show is ‘not really a competition,’ with ‘a huge cash prize or a contract with some record company.;

Since there is no public vote and winners are decided by a studio audience, Joel thinks this creates less pressure to ‘please the whole country,’ so the stars can just enjoy the experience.

Joel also admitted he enjoys the ‘family day out’ feel of a full studio audience, which is often made up of different generations.

Joss Stone was the winner of season 2 of The Masked Singer (Picture: ITV)

He said: ‘There were young kids, the parents and the grannies all together as a family day out.’

The Masked Singer returns to our screens in a matter of days, with a whole new cast hoping for their identities to remain a mystery until the very end.

More: Davina McCall

Season 3 of the singing extravaganza will see the likes of Firework, Rockhopper, Doughnuts and Chandelier keep viewers guessing and chanting, ‘Take it off!’ at the TV each night.

Fans across the country are certainly going to have their work cut out, so get your notepads ready and see how you get on uncovering the identities of the celebrities, which also include Bagpipes, Lionfish, Traffic Cone, Mushroom, Poodle, Snow Leopard and Robobunny.

The Masked Singer returns to ITV on January 1.

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