ITV1’s zaniest guessing game, The Masked Singer, returns with a hefty dose of elaborately costumed celebrities warbling their way into our hearts (or at least, provoking mild curiosity). Host Joel Dommett, likely refreshed after a brief respite from the madness, presides over the lunacy. Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, and Mo Gilligan resume their judging duties, joined by newcomer Maya Jama. One hopes Ms. Jama is adequately prepared for the sheer absurdity she’s about to encounter.
This season’s initial lineup of mystery singers includes Teeth, Snail, Tattoo, Kingfisher, Spag Bol, and Dressed Crab. Yes, you read that correctly. Dressed Crab. One can only speculate on the creative process that birthed that particular monstrosity. Will the costumes be as memorably bizarre as last season’s? Will the singers be as surprisingly talented (or gloriously off-key)? And will the judges offer anything remotely resembling a coherent guess?
The show’s persistent appeal lies in its simple premise: masked celebrities sing, judges guess, viewers at home yell at the television, and eventually, the masks come off. It’s a formula as comforting as a warm bowl of…well, not Spag Bol, judging by the costume. Since its 2020 debut, The Masked Singer has consistently drawn solid ratings, proving that the British public’s appetite for the surreal is, thankfully, insatiable. This season, with a fresh batch of hidden talents and a tweaked judging panel, aims to maintain that impressive track record. Prepare for the guessing games, the inevitable online speculation, and the inevitable disappointment when your meticulously crafted theories prove utterly wrong.
The Masked Singer airs Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 7:00 PM on ITV1.
