The Masked Dancer has been axed after just two series.
On the ITV1 show, celebrities including Doctor Who star Bonnie Langford and former Glee actress Heather Morris concealed their identities in elaborate costumes as a panel of judges tried to guess who they were.
Joel Dommett acted as host of the series, and Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Oti Mabuse and Jonathan Ross formed the panel, but a source has now claimed that the show did not live up to the success of The Masked Singer because it aired in al same time as BBC rival Strictly Come Dancing.
A source said Sun: ‘ITV thought it was worth betting on a concept that had clearly struck a chord with the public like The Masked Singer.
‘But they made the mistake of changing it from a show that aired every night for a week to a weekly show that aired on Saturday night.
On the ITV1 show, celebrities including Doctor Who star Bonnie Langford and former Glee actress Heather Morris concealed their identities in elaborate costumes as a panel of judges tried to guess who they were.
Joel Dommett had presented the series, which saw West End legend Bonnie Langford unmasked as Squirrel.
Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Oti Mabuse and Jonathan Ross made up the judging panel (pictured with guest star Holly Willoughby, centre)
“That made it come out on the same night as Strictly Come Dancing, which is a very challenging rival.”
The series premiered in May 2021 and returned for a second outing in September the following year, but did not return to screens in 2023.
At the time it was claimed that the broadcaster had decided to “rest” the format to make room for coverage of the Rugby World Cup.
A show source said: “Fans will be devastated, but The Masked Dancer will be resting until 2023.”
“Instead, ITV will broadcast the Rugby World Cup during the autumn,” they continued.
At the time, the source added that it could just be a hiatus and that he had made “plans” for more specials.
The source added: “ITV has plans for other specials such as The Masked Singer I’m A Celeb show.”
Appearing on screens last year, the 2022 series of the show featured stars including Kimberley Walsh, Steph McGovern and Jesse Metcalfe.
But in the end, the winner was Glee star Heather Morris, who was acting as Scissors.
The winner of the first series was Glee star Heather Morris, who performed as Scissors.
After winning the show, Heather, who has been married to Taylor Hubbell since 2015 and has Elijah, 10, and Owen, seven, with him, added that it was her children who inspired her to take part in the show. first place because they are all “big fans” of the ITV franchise.
After his victory, he gushed: ‘I had a great time.
‘This has made my heart so full. I feel like a little kid dancing on stage again. ‘
My kids at home, I have two kids at home and we’re big ‘Masked’ fans.
