Telly favourite Davina McCall has revealed that filming will be underway in a couple of months for a new series of The Masked Singer in the UK.
Davina, who sits on the panel of celebrity detectives alongside Rita Ora, Ken Jeong and Jonathan Ross, shared that filming should be commencing in September, and there are hopes that they will be able to have a studio audience.
The 52-year-old former Big Brother host shared her excitement for filming to start up again amid the coronavirus lockdown.
With lockdown restrictions softening and the two-metre social distancing rule dropping to one-metre, Davina explained that programme bosses are hoping for a studio audience.
Davina McCall has opened up about plans for the second series of The Masked Singer UK (Image: ITV)
Speaking on her podcast, Making The Cut, an excited Davina explained: “It’s coming back! We are going to start filming in September or October.
“The audience situation will be easier with a one-metre rule. But things are changing so rapidly now with the easing that September is a lifetime away.
“It may well be that social distancing has gone out the window by that point.”
Davina sits on the panel of celebrity detectives alongside Rita Ora, Ken Jeong and Jonathan Ross (Image: ITV)
Davina’s announcement comes less than two months after top ITV boss Kevin Lygo said that production on the series would go ahead – with or without an audience.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Fest, the director of television at ITV revealed that casting for new famous faces was already underway for The Masked Singer.
He said: “It looks like we will have to do some shows without audiences…. [it’s] more manageable for us in an enclosed guarded space.
The wacky guessing game wowed viewers earlier this year (Image: ITV)
“The challenge for the production company and us is that when the big reveal comes, you don’t go, ‘Who the f*** is that?’.”
The first British series of The Masked Singer UK graced our television screens in January this year and was a runaway hit with fans.
Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts was crowned the winner as Queen Bee after beating off stiff competition in the final from Katherine Jenkins and Jason Manford.
Other notable famous faces that competed were Denise Van Outen, Justin Hawkins and Teddy Sherringham.
Nicola Roberts won the first series of The Masked Singer UK
ITV is currently airing the latest American version of The Masked Singer over the summer to fill gaps in the television schedule.
The broadcaster has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and was left with massive holes in its primetime slots after shows such as Britain’s Got Talent’s live finals were put on hold.
A source said: “Huge shows on ITV have been pulled or put on ice because of the pandemic so bosses are having a nightmare trying to work out how to fill them.
“The Masked Singer was a ratings hit for them here so they’ve decided to air the American version every weekend over the summer.
“To them it was an obvious choice because it was so popular and the formula is identical.
“Obviously some of the stars might not be recognisable to them but it’s still a great show.”
Pussycat Doll turned X factor judge Nicole Scherzinger is a celebrity detective on The Masked Singer USA alongside Ken, TV personality Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and singer Robin Thicke.
Fans will have to wait and see which famous faces are ready to dress up in wacky costumes and perform to the nation.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
