Footballing legend Peter Crouch joins the panel for the brand-new series of The Masked Dancer

Footballing legend Peter Crouch joins the panel for the brand-new series of The Masked Dancer

After the success of the first series, The Masked Dancer is back as our celebrity cast attempt to baffle, bewilder and bamboozle the panel and viewers with their fancy footwork and dazzling dance moves whilst covered from head to toe in extravagant and elaborate costumes.  

This series footballing legend Peter Crouch will be hoping he can hit the back of the net with his guesses - a celebration that could see his unique 'Robot dance' making an appearance!   With success both on and off the pitch and a host of famous friends to boot, could this give him the edge over his fellow panellists?  Alongside Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and Oti Mabuse they will all be watching each performance closely as they try and work out which twinkle toed celebrity is behind the mask. 

The former England striker will be stepping in for comedian Mo Gilligan this season, with Mo unavailable owing to touring commitments.   Mo will be back to join Peter, Davina, Jonathan and Oti on the panel for a surprise appearance during the run.   Our panel will also be joined by some very special guests throughout the series.    

Presiding over this unique and unusual dance party will be Joel Dommett.  

Twelve brand new celebrities will be stepping onto the dancefloor to take on character alter egos as they trip the light fantastic in a bid to wow the panel and confuse with their moves. Clue packages will accompany every Masked Dancer to help the panel and at home detectives crack the case of who the famous faces behind the masks are. From ballet to ballroom, salsa to swing and everything in between, the mystery line up will be dancing onto screens later this year on ITV and ITV Hub. 

Last series viewers saw OIympic gymnast Louis Smith storm to victory dressed as the wonderfully outlandish Car Wash.   The series also saw Radio DJ and presenter Zoe Ball unmasked as Llama, choreographer and TV judge Craig Revel Horwood as Knickerbocker Glory, Ice skating legend Christopher Dean as Beagle and presenter Kelly Brook as Frog.  

Mo Gilligan said: “I love being a part of the Masked Team so I’m gutted to be missing most of the series this year as I’ll be working in the US. BUT I’ve got the perfect sub to take my place.  A legend on and off the pitch and one of the nicest guys in the industry, Crouchy knows a thing or two about fancy footwork, we’ve got this!” 

Peter Crouch said: “The show is a firm favourite in our household and when asked I jumped at the chance to take part.  I am competitive and I'm currently scrolling through friends' socials looking for those tell-tale dance moves.  Another plus is by being on the panel my social media, family and friends won’t be constantly speculating that I’m hiding behind one of the masks!”

Oti Mabuse said:  "I love being a part of the show. It was such a highlight.   I take my hat off to the celebrities, they make dancing in those huge but wonderful costumes look effortless.  I’m so excited to see this year’s characters.”

Jonathan Ross said: "As the current reigning champion amongst the panel I will be using my expert knowledge in all things dance to take the title again. Who knows, this year my dream might come true and Mary Berry might just be behind one of the masks!” 

Davina McCall said: “Love love love this show, it's bonkers but utterly brilliant.  Night after night I’m always so shocked to see who's hiding behind the mask and I can’t wait to find out who this year’s celebrities will be.”  

Joel Dommett said: “It’s so great to be back for some dancing and guessing! I’m super excited to find out who is dancing behind the masks! We’re losing Mo for some episodes - but we have Peter ‘the Robot’ Crouch to fill his much smaller shoes. I’m very excited as I’ve always looked up to him in his career and because he is massive.”

Katie Rawcliffe, ITV’s Head of Entertainment Commissioning said “Last series was such a hit with fans, we are delighted to be bringing a brand-new instalment of the most bonkers show on TV to our viewers.  It’s become compulsive viewing for our audience as families across the country join in unison to shout 'Take It Off' at their TV’s.” 

Bandicoot Scotland founders, Derek McLean and Daniel Nettleton added:  “We are thrilled that the audience loved watching the series as much as we enjoyed making it.  We have a fantastic cast who will be unleashing their inner dancer on the nation which is guaranteed to make you smile, laugh and join in on the fun.   We welcome footballing legend and creator of the Robot, Peter Crouch to the panel this year, he along with the other pannellist will need to hone their detective skills as the clues are devilishly designed to keep them off the scent.  It's going to be a fantastic series and we can’t wait to share it with the viewers.  

The Masked Dancer has been commissioned for ITV by Katie Rawcliffe, ITV’s Head of Entertainment Commissioning and Joe Mace, ITV Entertainment Commissioner. The series will be produced by Bandicoot Scotland (part of Argonon Group) and the executive producers are Derek McLean, Daniel Nettleton and Claire Horton.

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Notes to editors:

About Bandicoot

Founded in 2017 by Derek McLean and Daniel Nettleton in a joint venture with Argonon, the multi award-winning Bandicoot TV devises and produces entertainment, reality and factual entertainment formats.  In addition to producing two series of The Masked Singer UK for ITV, with the first season winning an International Emmy for Entertainment, the prestigious RTS Programme Award – Entertainment and an RTS Craft & Design Award in 2020 for Costume Design – Entertainment & Non-Drama, Bandicoot also produced The Masked Dancer which aired earlier this year on ITV.  Other current commissions include Peckham’s Finest, currently enjoying a ten-part run on ITV2.  Previous commissions include ITV Hub series The Masked Singer: Unmasked; two series of Test Drive for BBC Scotland which was nominated in the entertainment category at the BAFTA Scotland Awards 2020 and Chase the Case, a 20-part series for BBC One. Bandicoot has several new projects in the pipeline. 

About Argonon Group

Founded in 2011 by CEO James Burstall, Argonon is the world’s first hyper-converged superindie, with labels producing content including The Masked Singer UK (ITV1) to Worzel Gummidge (BBC One) and Dispatches (Channel 4). Headquartered in London, New York and LA with further offices in Liverpool and Glasgow, Argonon is an independent production group led by a board of creatives and entrepreneurs including James Burstall (CEO), Laura Bessell (COO) and David Dugan (Chairman, Windfall Films). The group consists of eight companies producing multi award-winning content for a wide range of major broadcasters, platforms and brands in the UK, US and across the world. The companies produce content across all genres and of all lengths, specialising in factual, factual entertainment, entertainment, drama, arts, comedy, and children’s programming.  Argonon has won 125 awards including Emmys, BAFTAs and RTS Awards and received over 180 nominations. Argonon is made up of Leopard Pictures, Leopard USA, Windfall Films, BriteSpark Films, Bandicoot, Like A Shot, Studio Leo and Nemorin. Clients range from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky, Netflix, Discovery, Nat Geo, Facebook Watch, PBS, HGTV, A&E and UKTV to Credit Suisse, American Express, McDonald’s, Hugo Boss, My Single Friend, Net-a-Porter and Nationwide.