The guessing has begun as The Masked Dancer returned to our screens. The equally as bonkers spin-off to The Masked Singer was back on ITV on Saturday night (September) with new celebrities hiding their identities and a slight change to the judging panel.
After this year's characters kicked off the show with a joint performance, host Joel Dommett was back on stage to introduce who will be guessing again this year. Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse, chat show host Jonathan Ross and TV presenter Davina McCall were joined by former footballer Peter Crouch as they started their latest efforts to work out who is behind the mask.
And the extravagant characters of Candlestick, Odd Socks, Prawn Cocktail, Astronaut, Scissors, and the show’s first duo – Pillar and Post – all took to the stage during episode one. But it was Astronaut who became the first to be unmasked with the panel left open-mouthed at their identity.
READ MORE: ITV The Masked Dancer fans reckon they've unmasked Amanda Holden as character over one major clue
Oti started freaking out as her childhood crush, and Desperate Housewives star, Jesse Metcalfe revealed himself as the dancing character. Next Saturday the remaining characters will follow in the footsteps of last night's dancers as they head onto the iconic dancefloor.
As well as the panel doing the guessing, viewers at home have already get stuck in with Amanda Holden being named as Scissors and ITV's Rob Rinder, aka Judge Rinder, being tipped to being behind Candlestick.
But it appears Pillar and Post have got fans stumped as Coronation Street, This Morning, and Dancing On Ice stars have all been named as being behind the duo's masks.
Oti reckoned they could be This Morning's Rochelle Humes and her husband Marvin with JL5 being written on the postbox possibly hinting she could be right. However, Peter said: "I noticed hearts on the trees and I thought that was a bit of a clue. It could be Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden."
The pre-performance VT also hinted at the pair liking to hit the cobbles early, Post making a career of following instructions and separate trips round the world that delivered them into the same vicinity. The bonus clue saw the unknown pair reveal "We’ve 'toe-tally' seen stars together."
Some Masked Dancer viewers had another This Morning double act in mind and believed the pair were Nik and Eva Speakman. They pointed out the voices sounded just like the husband-and-wife duo who are veterans of the show, often appearing to cure people of phobias.
@SkylarTwisty tweeted: "Just because this is ITV , they’re regulars and they appear on everything together I’m guessing it’s The Speakmeans as Pillar & Post. #themaskeddancer." @ItsJoshJohn_ commented: "Speakmans from This Morning. - receive letters about peoples fears is one clue? #Themaskeddancer." @leauk84 wrote: "Actually the accents sound real. The Speakmans? #TheMaskedDancer."
But others are adamant it's a couple who found love on ITV skating show Dancing On Ice. @LaurieannBattye said: "Pillar and post on #TheMaskedDancer is most certainly David Seaman and his wife Frankie from DOI." @Wadeson2408 echoed: "#TheMaskedDancer 100% pillar and post are David Seaman and Frankie Poultney!"
However, a Corrie star and her husband who also met through the ITV show - Samia and Sylvain Longchambon - are also being tipped to be behind the masks. @who_tf_is_lou tweeted: "I’m confident Pillar & Post are Samia and Sylvan Longchambon #themaskeddancer." @gillygems shared: "Samia and Sylvain Longchambon. The height difference. The [heart] as they met on Dancing on Ice. So many skating dance moves plus sure I heard mention of cobbles. "
READ NEXT:
- ITV The Masked Dancer fans convinced major reality star is Candlestick
- ITV The Voice UK viewers issue same complaint within minutes of the new series starting
- Rylan Clark 'shares link to OnlyFans' after telling fans he has 'no hope'
- ITV Love Island's Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu comments on relationship with Davide Sanclimenti as he appears to celebrate in Manchester
- Vernon Kay details Tess Daly's pre-Strictly Come Dancing prep at home and says when she'll quit
