The Masked Singer UK is finally returning to screens for season 4. The popular ITV competition sees a batch of celebrities attempt to bewilder the judges and viewers at home by singing under a guise.
Kicking off 2023 with a bang, The Masked Singer UK will see Joel Dommett return as host while Davina McCall, Rita Ora, Jonathan Ross and Mo Gilligan head back to the panel to play detective. Last year Natalie Imbruglia, who was masquerading as Panda, was crowned winner, while the final also saw footballing legend Michael Owen unmasked as Doughnuts and chart topper Charlotte Church revealed to be Mushroom.
This year 12 new acts will once again take to the stage, although season four's line-up includes the competition's first singing duo, Cat & Mouse, which takes the celebrity count up to 13. Other costumes this year include Jellyfish, Rubbish, quite literally a costume of a recycling bin, Jacket Potato, Rhino and Otter.
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But when is The Masked Singer 2023 on, what are the costumes this year and what can ITV viewers expect? Here's everything you need to know.
The Masked Singer UK season 4 start date
Wondering when The Masked Singer starts? Well, you don't have look to wait as the 2023 series kicks off on New Year's Day.
Viewers can tune into the first show to see this year's characters as they share their first clue packages and take to the stage in the hopes of bamboozling the judges and audience on Sunday, January 1 at 6.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
The Masked Singer UK season 4 costumes
- Fawn
- Jacket Potato
- Piece of Cake
- Pigeon
- Rhino
- Rubbish
- Cat & Mouse
- Ghost
- Jellyfish
- Knitting
- Otter
- Phoenix
The Masked Singer UK season 4 clues
While some clues could be in the costumes, judges Mo, Rita, Davia and Jonathan have also shared some insights from this year's series. On whether any of the performances have made her cry, Davina said: "Absolutely!! Jellyfish is an extraordinary performer and has made us all feel pretty emotional. Rhino, as well, has been particularly emotive. There are people who completely draw you in.
"It's lucky for Rhino, actually, that they can pull some emotion out of the bag, because it's very, very hard in that costume to give us anything at all. They are massive, and they are quite humble. They keep putting their little hooves together, it looks so sweet. If it's possible to have a sweet rhino, this is it."
Speaking about the first duo on the show, Cat & Mouse, Jonathan explained: "So it makes it a bit harder to guess because the clues could be about one of them or both of them, you know what I mean? So it's harder in many ways but it's a lot more fun to watch because you try and pick up from them what is their relationship? Are they people who are together off screen? Are they people who work together?
"So it feels like a different element and it means that they can do different things on stage together as well. So you have a different kind of comic dynamic going on there."
Teasing the performances, Rita added: "Well, I say this every time, but I really feel like it’s next level this year. There's a specific two that I feel are just mind-blowing. And there are some real singers in the mix."
Speaking about his favourite costumes in 2023, Mo said: "Probably this series, my favourite costume is Jacket Potato, it's so weird! You've even got styrofoam feet that you get for jacket potatoes. And you just look at it and the attention to detail is insane, he's got a shirt which is beans and there is butter on his head.
"And then there's Otter, I love otters, one of my favourite animals. Otters have a stone that they have to smash clams, so ours has little pockets for the stones on the costume. The attention to detail and the costumes are so cool." For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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