The first series of the British version of The Masked Singer premiered on ITV on 4 January 2020, and concluded on 15 February 2020. The series was won by singer Nicola Roberts as "Queen Bee", with comedian Jason Manford finishing second as "Hedgehog", and singer Katherine Jenkins placing third as "Octopus".
Production On 31 May 2019, it was announced that ITV was producing a local version of the South Korean television singing competition King of Mask Singer, originally broadcast by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, for the British television market. The production is made by British television production company Bandicoot, part of the Argonon Group.
Panellists and host
Following the announcement of the series, it was confirmed by ITV that the panel would consist of presenter and comedian Jonathan Ross, television presenter Davina McCall, US actor and comedian Ken Jeong (who is also a panellist on the American version of the programme), and singer-songwriter and actress Rita Ora. It was also confirmed that Joel Dommett would host the show.
In episode five, Donny Osmond, who appeared as Peacock in the first American series, took Jeong's place on the panel. In episode six, Sharon Osbourne and daughter Kelly Osbourne, the latter of whom appeared as Ladybug in the second American series, filled in.
Contestants + Results Stage name Celebrity Occupation(s) Episodes12345678 Queen Bee Nicola Roberts SingerWIN SAFESAFESAFESAFE WINNER Hedgehog Jason Manford Comedian/ActorWIN SAFE SAFESAFESAFE Octopus Katherine Jenkins Singer WIN RISKSAFESAFESAFE THIRD Monster CeeLo Green Singer RISK SAFERISKSAFEOUT Fox Denise van Outen Actress WIN SAFESAFERISKOUT Unicorn Jake Shears SingerWIN SAFE SAFEOUT Duck Skin SingerRISKRISKSAFEOUT Daisy Kelis Singer/Chef RISKSAFEOUT Tree Footballer WIN OUT Chameleon Justin Hawkins SingerRISK OUT Pharaoh Alan Johnson Politician OUT Butterfly Patsy Palmer Actress/DJOUT
Episodes
Episode 1 (4 January) + Performances on the first episode # Stage name Song Identity Result 1 Queen Bee "Alive" by Sia WIN 2 Duck "Like a Virgin" by Madonna RISK 3 Unicorn "Babooshka" by Kate Bush WIN 4 Butterfly "You've Got the Love" by Florence and the Machine OUT 5 Chameleon "Creep" by Radiohead RISK 6 Hedgehog "Black Magic" by Little Mix WIN
Episode 2 (5 January) + Performances on the second episode # Stage name Song Identity Result 1 Monster "Happy" by Pharrell Williams RISK 2 Fox "Call Me" by Blondie WIN 3 Tree "It Must Be Love" by Madness WIN 4 Pharaoh "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles OUT 5 Octopus "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid WIN 6 Daisy "Can't Feel My Face" by The Weeknd RISK
Episode 3 (11 January) +Performances on the third episode#Stage nameSong Result1Unicorn"Juice" by LizzoSAFE2Queen Bee"Someone You Loved" by Lewis CapaldiSAFE3Duck"Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon JoviRISK4Hedgehog"Shine" by Take ThatSAFE5Chameleon"Feel It Still" by Portugal. The ManRISKSing-OffIdentityResult1Duck"Ave Maria" by SchubertSAFE2Chameleon"True Colors" by Cyndi LauperOUT
Episode 4 (18 January) +Performances on the fourth episode#Stage nameSong Result1Octopus"Splish Splash" by Bobby DarinRISK2Tree"Lovely Day" by Bill WithersRISK3Daisy"I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie RaittSAFE4Monster"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis PresleySAFE5Fox"On the Radio" by Donna SummerSAFESing-OffIdentityResult1Octopus"One Last Time" by Ariana GrandeSAFE2Tree"Evergreen" by WestlifeOUT
Episode 5 (25 January) Guest panelist: Donny Osmond (in place of Ken Jeong) +Performances on the fifth episode#Stage nameClue songIdentityResult1Monster "Don't Cha" by The Pussycat Dolls RISK2Fox "On My Own" from Les Misérables SAFE3Daisy "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole KelisOUT4 "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys SAFE5Octopus "Diamonds Are Forever" by Shirley Bassey SAFE6Unicorn "Sharp Dressed Man" by ZZ Top SAFE7Hedgehog "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis SAFE8Duck "Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2" by Stormzy ft. MNEK SAFE
Episode 6 (1 February) Group number: "High Hopes" by Panic! at the Disco Guest panelists: Sharon Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne (in place of Ken Jeong) +Performances on the sixth episode#Stage nameSongIdentityResult1 Fox "Firework" by Katy Perry RISK2 Duck "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion SkinOUT3 Unicorn "Girls & Boys" by Blur OUT4 "Heaven" by DJ Sammy SAFE5 Monster "Human" by Rag'n'Bone Man SAFE6 Hedgehog "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meat Loaf SAFE7 Octopus "I'll Never Love Again" by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper SAFE
Episode 7: Semi-final (8 February) Group number: "Don't Get Me Wrong" by The Pretenders
+First performances on the seventh episode#Stage nameSongIdentityResult1 Hedgehog "Chandelier" by Sia SAFE2 Octopus "Somewhere" by Barbra Streisand SAFE3 Fox "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler OUT4 "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston SAFE5 Monster "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" by Culture Club SAFE
+Second performances on the seventh episode#Stage nameSongIdentityResult1 Hedgehog "My Way" by Frank Sinatra SAFE2 Octopus "Vogue" by Madonna SAFE3 "Work It Out" by Beyoncé SAFE4 Monster "Careless Whisper" by George Michael OUT
Episode 8: Final (15 February) Group number: "The Greatest Show" from The Greatest Showman
+First performances on the eighth episode#Stage nameSongIdentityResult1 "Somebody Else's Guy" by Jocelyn Brown SAFE2 Hedgehog "Cry Me a River" by Ella Fitzgerald SAFE3 Octopus "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from Mary Poppins THIRD PLACE
+Second performances on the eighth episode#Stage nameSong of the seriesIdentityResult1 "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi Nicola RobertsWINNER2 Hedgehog "Black Magic" by Little Mix RUNNER-UP
Ratings Official ratings are taken from BARB, utilising the four-screen dashboard which includes viewers who watched the programme on laptops, smartphones, and tablets within 28 days of the original broadcast.
EpisodeDateOfficial rating(millions)ITV weeklyrank1 7.10 42 5.50 15 3 6.52 114 6.26 145 6.35 146 5.83 157 6.51 88 7.69 2Series average 2020 6.47
References