IT’S the ultimate family friendly guessing game filled with bizarrely disguised famous faces belting out music anthems.
While the televised edit is all bubblegum smiles, cheesy jokes and fun cryptic clues, occasionally behind the scenes there are tense tantrums.
It’s to be expected given the heady mix of talent involved, many of whom have had genuine chart success and boast superior vocal talent to their masked rivals.
Egos should go out the window when they sign to go undercover as a wacky creature, but pride is a funny thing and is sometimes hard to control.
We take a look at some of the biggest backstage drama that didn’t get shown on TV:
MACY’S MELTDOWN – 2025
Macy Gray had a face like thunder when she was unveiled as Toad in the Hole early last year.
The gravelly-voiced American crooner is a Grammy winner with record sales of over 25 million so it’s no surprise she was peeved to exit the competition early.
Even more so when her main competition, Bear, had a very shaky performance.
But no-one could have predicted how badly she would take it, unable, or simply unwilling, to even try and hide her hurt.
If her glum expression as host Joel Dommett and panellist Jonathan Ross desperately tried to lift her spirits was painful enough, spare a thought for the poor producers who spent the best part of an hour behind the scenes trying to coax Macy back on stage.
Macy reached the final of the US version of the show in 2023, so the early exit must have come as a shock to the system.
But it’s likely to make reality show bookers think twice in the future.
MEL B’S COSTUME CONFUSION – 2021
Secrecy is the name of the game when it comes to The Masked Singer.
The show operates like a military operation with contestants quietly shipped in and out of the studio in disguise to protect the entire premise of the show.
Rules state that celebs have to be completely covered head to toe in black including plain hoodies and balaclavas when not in costume.
But Mel’s loud leopard print accessories in series two, namely her bag and earphones, fell foul of this and gave a good indication of who was behind the mask.
Producers were forced to reprimand her and make her cover up her items with black tape.
RITA’S LOCKDOWN PARTY – 2020
Former show panellist Rita Ora‘s relationship with show bosses was threatened by her law-breaking 30th birthday party during the coronavirus pandemic.
The pop star famously partied with 30 friends and family in West London restaurant Casa Cruz, when group gatherings were very much not allowed.
Rita apologised for the error in judgement and offered to pay a voluntary £10,000 fine.
There were reports at the time that ITV bosses were “fuming” over the incident.
“Viewers have been watching Rita on Saturday nights for weeks, but the Masked Singer was recorded way before her birthday bash at the end of November,” an insider told The Mirror.
“Such a lot of effort goes into keeping the talent and crew safe while making it – many people felt let down by the way Rita behaved.
“She has not done herself any favours.”
While she retained her place on the panel for series three, she was subsequently overlooked for the spin-off show Masked Dancer
While Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, and Mo Gilligan returned for the panel, Rita’s role was instead filled by former Strictly judge Oti Mabuse.
Rita has however moved onto pastures new now, quitting the Masked Singer in 2024, replaced by Love Island‘s Maya Jama.
TOILET TROUBLE
The celebs might be full of energy and excitement when it’s their time to shine onstage, but backstage it’s a more miserable experience.
They’re effectively under house arrest, isolated from one another to ensure their identities are protected at all costs.
Even something as simple as a toilet visit requires special measures.
They have to put on a full visor, gloves, and a hoodie that says “DON’T SPEAK TO ME” just to walk down a hallway to the loo.
Show winner Charlie Simpson also told us: “I couldn’t go to the loo without putting all the visor and stuff on. It’s like MI5.
I guess the premise of the show is that it’s all about secrecy, but they take it very seriously which is good, I think!”
Recent reveal Professor Green, who was unmasked as teabag, admitted that the dress up was “stuffy” and that he felt “claustrophobic” during the experience.
He also said that he was “kept away” from other show contestants like Anne Marie, who he didn’t realise was even on the same show.
