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

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Saturday 6th February 2021 From Bandicoot TV The Masked Singer: SR2: Ep7 on ITV Pictured: Rita Ora. 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
Rita Ora will definitely be back on The Masked Singer (Picture: ITV)

Rita Ora will be back for The Masked Singer season 3 despite huge backlash for throwing a 30th 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?”’

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Friday 28th May 2021 From Bandicoot TV The Masked Dancer: Ep1 on ITV and ITV Hub Pictured: Oti Mabuse. 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
Oti Mabuse filled Rita’s seat on The Masked Dancer panel (Credits: ITV)

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.

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: