The Masked Dancer (British TV series) series 1 explained

Module1:
Host:Joel Dommett
Num Contestants:12
Winner:Louis Smith as "Carwash"
Runner Up:Bonnie Langford as "Squirrel"
Num Episodes:7
Network:ITV

The first series of the British version of The Masked Dancer premiered on ITV on 29 May 2021, and concluded on 5 June 2021. The series was won by Olympic gymnast Louis Smith as "Carwash", with actress/dancer Bonnie Langford finishing second as "Squirrel", and singer Howard Donald placing third as "Zip".

Production

On 4 March 2021, it was announced that ITV were producing a local version of the American television dancing competition The Masked Dancer following the success of its sister show The Masked Singer.[1] The series consisted of 12 contestants competing through seven episodes.[2] The series was commissioned as a replacement in the spring schedule for Britain's Got Talent, which had its upcoming fifteenth series postponed until 2022 due to health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] [4] The show premiered on 29 May 2021.[5] [6]

Panellists and host

Following the announcement of the series, it was confirmed by ITV that the panel would consist of presenter and comedian Jonathan Ross, television presenter Davina McCall, and comedian Mo Gilligan, who are all panellists on The Masked Singer, along with Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse. It was also confirmed that Joel Dommett would host the show.

Guest panellists included David Walliams in the fifth episode, John Bishop in the sixth episode, and Holly Willoughby in the seventh episode.[7] [8]

Contestants

One of the shows sponsors, Lidl, had a product placement mask known as "Goose", who was unmasked to be Love Island winner Dani Dyer.[9]

Results
Stage name[10] CelebrityOccupation(s)Episodes
1234567
CarwashLouis SmithOlympic gymnastbgcolor=#F888FD WINbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=#F3F781 RISKbgcolor=gold WINNER
SquirrelBonnie LangfordActress/dancerbgcolor=#F3F781 RISKbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=silver
ZipHoward DonaldSingerbgcolor=#F888FD WINbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=#F3F781 RISKbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=tan THIRD
ScarecrowTamzin OuthwaiteActressbgcolor=#F888FD WINbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=salmon OUT
FrogKelly BrookModel/actressbgcolor=#F3F781 RISKbgcolor=#F3F781 RISKbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=salmon OUTbgcolor=darkgrey colspan="2"
Dancer/TV judgebgcolor=#F3F781 RISKbgcolor=#F3F781 RISKbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=salmon OUTbgcolor=darkgrey colspan="2"
LlamaZoe BallDJ/TV presenterbgcolor=#F888FD WINbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=salmon OUTbgcolor=darkgrey colspan="3"
BeagleChristopher DeanOlympic ice dancerbgcolor=#F888FD WINbgcolor=lightgreen SAFEbgcolor=salmon OUTbgcolor=darkgrey colspan="3"
Rubber ChickenEddie the Eaglebgcolor=#F888FD WINbgcolor=salmon OUTbgcolor=darkgrey colspan="4"
BeetrootDita Von TeeseBurlesque dancerbgcolor=#F3F781 RISKbgcolor=salmon OUTbgcolor=darkgrey colspan="5"
FlamingoLouise RedknappSingerbgcolor=salmon OUTbgcolor=darkgrey colspan="6"
ViperJordan BanjoDancerbgcolor=salmon OUTbgcolor=darkgrey colspan="7"

Episodes

Episode 1 (29 May)

+ Performances on the first episodeStage name Song Identity Result
1Zip"Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang/"Good Times" by Chicbgcolor=#F888FD WIN
2"Telephone" by Lady Gaga & Beyoncébgcolor=#F3F781 RISK
3Beetroot"I Put a Spell on You" by Annie Lennoxbgcolor=#F3F781 RISK
4Llama"Soul Bossa Nova" by Quincy Jonesbgcolor=#F888FD WIN
5Viper"Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitzbgcolor=salmon OUT
6Scarecrow"September" by Justin Timberlake & Anna Kendrickbgcolor=#F888FD WIN

Episode 2 (30 May)

+ Performances on the second episodeStage name Song Identity Result
1Squirrel"Shake It Off" by Taylor Swiftbgcolor=#F3F781 RISK
2Carwash"Car Wash" by Christina Aguilera feat. Missy Elliottbgcolor=#F888FD WIN
3Flamingo"Lady Marmalade" by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, Pink & Missy Elliottbgcolor=salmon OUT
4"Hippy Hippy Shake" by The Swinging Blue Jeansbgcolor=#F888FD WIN
5Frog"Boom! Shake the Room" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Princebgcolor=#F3F781 RISK
6Beagle"Bang Bang" by will.i.ambgcolor=#F888FD WIN

Episode 3 (31 May)

Result
1Knickerbocker Glory"All That Jazz" by Liza MinnelliRISK
2Llama"Bad Guy" by Billie EilishSAFE
3Scarecrow"Timber" by Pitbull feat. KeshaSAFE
4Beetroot"It's My Party" by Lesley GoreRISK
5Zip"Jungle Boogie" by Kool & the GangSAFE
Dance-OffIdentityResult
1"I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sistersbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
2Beetroot"Ex's & Oh's" by Elle Kingbgcolor=salmon OUT

Episode 4 (1 June)

Result
1Carwash"You're the One That I Want"/"Greased Lightnin'"/"Born to Hand Jive" from GreaseSAFE
2Rubber Chicken"Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...)" by Lou BegaRISK
3Frog"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel KamakawiwoʻoleRISK
4Beagle"Hound Dog" by Elvis PresleySAFE
5Squirrel"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" by BeyoncéSAFE
Dance-OffIdentityResult
1"Take a Chance on Me" by ABBAbgcolor=salmon OUT
2Frog"Hey Ya!" by Outkastbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE

Episode 5 (3 June)

Performances on the fifth episode!#!Stage name!Song!Identity!Result
1Frog"Little Shop of Horrors" from Little Shop of Horrorsbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
2Beagle"Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatrabgcolor=salmon OUT
3Carwash"24K Magic" by Bruno Marsbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
4Scarecrow"Perfect" by Ed Sheeranbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
5Squirrel "Scream" by Usherbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
6Zip"A Sky Full of Stars" by Coldplaybgcolor=#F3F781 RISK
7Llama"You Never Can Tell" by Chuck BerryZoe Ballbgcolor=salmon OUT
8"Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels" by Todrick Hallbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE

Episode 6: Semi-final (4 June)

Performances on the sixth episode!#!Stage name!Song!Identity!Result
1Carwash"Singin' in the Rain" from Singin' in the Rainbgcolor=#F3F781 RISK
2Frog"Shout Out to My Ex" by Little Mixbgcolor=#F3F781 RISK
3Squirrel "Havana" by Camila Cabello feat. Young Thugbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
4Zip"Use It Up and Wear It Out" by Odysseybgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
5"Despacito" by Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee/"Shape of You" by Ed Sheeranbgcolor=salmon OUT
6Scarecrow"Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNCbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
Dance-OffIdentityResult
1Carwash"Move Your Feet" by Junior Seniorbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
2Frog"One Way or Another" by BlondieKelly Brookbgcolor=salmon OUT

Episode 7: Final (5 June)

Group number: "Dancing in the Street" by Marvin Gaye

First performances on the seventh episode!#!Stage name!Song!Identity!Result
1Scarecrow"Come Alive" from The Greatest Showmanbgcolor=salmon OUT
2Zip"Super Freak" by Rick Jamesbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
3Squirrel "Bang Bang" by Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minajbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
4Carwashbgcolor=lightgreen SAFE
Second performances on the seventh episode!#!Stage name!Song!Identity!Result
1Zip"Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang/"Good Times" by ChicHoward Donaldbgcolor=tan THIRD PLACE
2Squirrel"Shake It Off" by Taylor Swiftbgcolor=silver RUNNER-UP
3Carwash"You're the One That I Want"/"Greased Lightnin'"/"Born to Hand Jive" from GreaseLouis Smithbgcolor=gold WINNER

Ratings

Official ratings are taken from BARB, utilising the four-screen dashboard which includes viewers who watched the programme on laptops, smartphones, and tablets within 28 days of the original broadcast.[11]

EpisodeDateOfficial 28 day rating
(millions)
Weekly rank
for ITV
14.02 15
2Outside top 15
33.67 14
43.41 15
53.75 13
63.98 12
74.65 7

Notes and References

  1. ITV commissions The Masked Dancer. ITV. ITV Press Centre. 4 March 2021. 9 March 2021.
  2. Web site: ITV Unveils The Masked Dancer After Hit Show The Masked Singer. Variety. Naman Ramachandran. 4 March 2021. 4 March 2021.
  3. Web site: ITV Orders The Masked Dancer Following The Success Of The Masked Singer. Deadline Hollywood. Jake Kanter. 4 March 2021. 4 March 2021.
  4. Web site: Britain's Got Talent Series 15 Postponed 'til 2022. 29 January 2021. 4 March 2021. ITV.
  5. Web site: The Masked Dancer start date and first look revealed!. TellyMix. Josh Darvill. 19 May 2021. 19 May 2021.
  6. Web site: The Masked Dancer release date: judges, contestants, clues and latest news. Radio Times. Lauren Morris. 18 May 2021. 19 May 2021.
  7. News: David Walliams joins Masked Dancer panel as show replaces Britain's Got Talent. Daily Mirror. Rose Hill. 13 May 2021. 19 May 2021.
  8. Web site: John Bishop, David Walliams and Holly Willoughby join The Masked Dancer as guest panellists. TellyMix. Josh Darvill. 25 May 2021. 28 May 2021.
  9. Web site: @LidlGB on Twitter: It's the day you have been waiting for!! It's time for Goose to TAKE IT OFF!. Twitter. LidlGB. 5 June 2021. 5 June 2021.
  10. Web site: The Masked Dancer UK unveils cast for series 1 in first-look photos. Digital Spy. Justin Harp. 7 May 2021. 7 May 2021.
  11. Web site: Most viewed programmes. BARB. 2021-10-13.