ITV has axed The Masked Dancer as part of a huge schedule shake-up. The prime time programme has aired two successful series, having been launched off the back of The Masked Singer.
But The Mirror reports it will not be making a return this year because of the Rugby World Cup 2023. The Masked Dancer launched in 2021 after the success of its sister show The Masked Singer but fans will have to wait till at least 2024 before the dancing competition returns.
A TV source said: "Fans will be gutted, but The Masked Dancer is being rested for 2023. Instead, ITV are showing the Rugby World Cup over the autumn.
"This doesn't mean it can't come back in 2024, and ITV have plans for other specials like The Masked Singer I'm A Celeb show," the source told The Sun. ITV has moved the show to make way for the rugby, which will air from September.
The Masked Dancer is judged by Oti Mabuse, Danvina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Mo Gilligan. The series sees 12 celebrities battle it out to progress in the competition and keep their identities hidden for as long as possible.
Last year, Scissors came out on top after defeating Onomatopoeia in a tense final. Onomatopoeia was revealed to be Hollywood heart-throb Adam Garcia while Glee actress Heather Morris was hiding behind Scissors.
Meanwhile, Phoenix, Rhino and Fawn will take to the stage in Saturday's Grand Final of The Masked Singer. In last week's semi-final, a dramatic double elimination saw Jacket Potato unveiled to be Bon Jon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora while Jellyfish was revealed to be Amber Riley.
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The legendary rock star was the first to go and told presenter Joel Dommett: "It took a little getting used to, but once I put [the costume] on that was it. It's a wild reality when you do this show, it's a gas. Everybody has treated me so good here. I've had a ball man, it's been fun. I figured we'd fool some people, you know."
After the second reveal, Amber teased Mo for not guessing her name correctly when they'd been together in Los Angeles a few weeks before they filmed the episode. "As soon as you started getting the Dreamgirls clues I was like, 'NOOOOOOOO!!!!'" she told Jonathan, who guessed her identity correctly.
"I really tried to pick songs that people would kind of not recognise my voice..."
